2030 Agenda as Point of Convergence for FAO and the Eurasian Economic Commission

Oleg Kobiakov, Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the Russian Federation, met with Artak Kamalyan, Member of the Board - Minister in charge of Industry and Agriculture of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) – the executive body of Eurasian Economic Union.

The parties noted with satisfaction sound cooperation within the framework of 2019-2023 Action Plan under the FAO-EEC Memorandum of Understanding and the practical benefits of leveraging FAO’s expertise in the work by the EEC on, inter alia, state regulation of agricultural markets, as well as traceability of farm animals and animal products.

“The international experience of FAO in assessing the effectiveness of state regulation measures, including the practice of providing subsidies, will allow the EEC to develop recommendations for the countries of the Union to improve the existing measures of state support for agriculture,” Artak Kamalyan said.

The EEC also asked FAO to share its methodology for assessing the state of food insecurity developed by the Organization and its partners. Oleg Kobiakov noted that FAO as a custodian UN agency for Sustainable Development Goal 2 “End Hunger, Achieve Food Security and Promote Sustainable Agriculture” has vast experience in the area and compiles annual reviews for the Committee on World Food Security.

The FAO Office Director detailed the work of FAO in assisting Member States to implement the 2030 Agenda and confirmed readiness to launch FAO-EEC cooperation in evaluating the state of food security and nutrition in the EEC area.

The FAO Office invited the EEC to participate on a regular basis at the meetings of the Organization’s Governing and technical Bodies, especially Committees on Commodities and Agriculture, as well as Codex Alimentarius sessions.