EESC :NAT section newsletter

 

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November 2023 ■ eesc.europa.eu/nat ■ Our current & future opinions

EDITORIAL BY PETER SCHMIDT

COP28 | The role of organised civil society in accelerating climate action We're packing our bags for Dubai, where the COP28 will be held from 30 November to 12 December 2023! The EESC delegation will be accompanied by a youth delegate and will engage in bilateral meetings and side events calling on the EU institutions and governments to step up climate ambition. As an input to the negotiations, the EESC adopted two specific contributions on implementing climate action on food and agriculture, and on the just transition work programme. 💬Read the editorial

COP28 IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The EESC at COP28 As in previous years, the EESC will be actively involved in the COP28 (Dubai, 30 November-12 December 2023). The EESC will be present onsite with a delegation of 7 members and a youth delegate, and will (co)organise 4 side events with topics ranging from sustainable food systems and just transition, to financing circular economy and beyond growth. All events will be webstreamed. Read more

MEET OUR MEMBERS

Meet our members | Piroska Kállay: Food is the common thread that links all 17 SDGs The EU food system is at a crossroads, facing a multi-crisis that includes various interrelated environmental, climate, health and social challenges. Agri-food systems are increasingly vulnerable to climate change while also substantially contributing to it. Therefore, making them climate-resilient is a necessity. We need more than ever sustainable, healthy, inclusive and fair food chains in the whole food sector. Read more

OUR FEATURED NEWS

The EESC at the Committee on World Food Security The EESC participated in the 51st annual meeting of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), which was held last October in Rome at the FAO premises. The EESC, which holds an observer status at the CFS, used the opportunity to maintain and further develop close contacts with the FAO and with civil society stakeholders. Read more

Meet the new EEA's executive director | Leena Ylä-Mononen "Civil society has a crucial role to play to both inform and support Europe’s environment and climate goals", says Leena Ylä-Mononen, newly appointed executive director of the European Environment Agency. Putting in place the European Green Deal requires a transformative agenda which must involve all parts of society, including citizens and especially youth. A key element of this transformation is a just transition, and this is exactly where dialogue, building knowledge and best practices come into play. Read more

EESC presents the #EUBlueDeal Action Plan On 26 October 2023, the EESC unveiled its plan for a comprehensive EU water strategy. The Committee is leading the way as the first European institution to take concrete steps to address the water crisis with a political declaration containing a set of 15 guiding principles and 21 concrete actions to make the Blue Deal a reality. Its proposals include: water consumption labels, a Blue Transition Fund, water conditionality in EU fund, and a dedicated EU Commissioner for water. Read more

Peter Schmidt at the Boosting Localization of the 2030 Agenda On 27 October 2023, NAT section president Peter Schmidt moderated a roundtable on the localization of the SDGs for the 2030 Agenda. The event was an opportunity to promote a dialogue about the progress and the pending challenges of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, including the links with the EU policies, best practices and the contributions from regional and local actors. 🎬 Video recording

Rural Pact Coordination Group | 2nd meeting On 7 November 2023, the Rural Pact Coordination Group (CG) convened for its second meeting since its inception. The CG plays a crucial role in developing strategies, coordinating actions, and ensuring effective implementation of the Rural Pact and brings together diverse stakeholders to address challenges and advance sustainable development in rural areas. NAT section member Lidija Pavić-Rogošić actively participated in the discussions. Read more

Youth Climate and Sustainability Round Table | Outcome document & Commissioner's response Last year, the EESC, the European Youth Forum and Generation Climate Europe hosted a youth roundtable with Commissioner Wojciechowski on Food security and sustainable food systems. An outcome document outlining the policy demands developed during the event was submitted to the European Commission which provided a written response signed by Commissioner Wojciechowski. Both documents are available online. Read more

EESC event | Making the European Green Deal real On 7 November 2023, ECOLISE and ICLEI–Local Governments for Sustainability, in partnership with the EESC, organised a policy event to present a grassroots and local government perspective on the European Green Deal and share insights into the handprint of community-led initiatives in addressing the planetary crisis. In deep conversations with policymakers, the event explored the systemic changes needed to harness the power of collective action which could enable local green deals. Read more  🎬Video recording

EESC event | Advancing the EU's just transition policy framework  On 5 October 2023, the EESC hosted a public hearing in the context of its ongoing opinion on just transition which was requested by the incoming Belgian presidency. The event discussed the steps the EU should take to establish a comprehensive and just transition policy framework and presented the relevant ILO guidelines. Special attention was also given to the intergenerational dimension and to proposals from the business sector. Read more 🎬Video recording 📌PPTs

EESC event | The Common Agricultural Policy post-2027  On 6 November 2023, the EESC hosted a public hearing in the context of its ongoing opinion on autonomous and sustainable food production which was requested by the upcoming Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU. The hearing gathered the views of farmers' organisations and other stakeholders on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-2027 in the context of the Agenda 2030 for sustainable development with a particular focus on youth. Read more 🎬Video recording 📌PPTs

EESC event | Sustainable food systems as drivers for the SDGs  On 17 November 2023, the EESC hosted an event to explore how sustainable food systems could contribute in achieving the SDGs. The event featured policy interventions from both FAO and the European Commission, while food supply chain actors provided concrete examples and best practices from the ground already undertaken to achieve more sustainability, along with their associated challenges. Read more 🎬Video recording

EESC event | Debate on gender equality and youth in rural areas On 22 November 2023, in line with its commitments to the Rural Pact, the EESC organised a thematic debate on gender equality and youth in rural areas. The debate was held in the context of the European Gender Equality Week, and served to shine a spotlight on the unique challenges faced by two integral demographics in rural areas: women and youth. Read more 🎬Video recording 📌PPTs

EESC event | Debate on food speculation On 22 November 2023, the EESC held a debate on food speculation as a follow up to its opinion on "Food price crisis: the role of speculation and concrete proposals for action in the aftermath of the Ukraine war". The debate clearly demonstrated the impact of the EESC opinion on this important topic, as it was widely quoted in the latest UNCTAD Trade and Development Report's chapter on Food Commodities, Corporate Profiteering and Crises. Read more   🎬Video recording

ALSO ON THE AGENDA

European Parliament study: International Climate Negotiations | COP28  The European Parliament published a study which provides an overview of the status of international climate negotiations and the issues at stake at the COP28 climate change conference, which will take place in Dubai (UAE) from 30 November to 12 December 2023. The study also addresses the current implementation of the Paris Agreement, the climate policies of key Parties and the stakeholders in the negotiations. Read more

European Commission | Informing citizens about the CAP - call for proposals The European Commission launched a call for proposals for support for information measures to the public relating to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The aim is to explain and raise awareness on the EU support to agriculture and rural development through the CAP, and to engage with farmers and other actors in rural areas in order for them to further communicate to their constituencies and the wider public about the CAP. The call will close on 9 January 2024. Read more

European Commission | Evaluation study of the EU school fruit, vegetables and milk scheme The European Commission published a study to evaluate the EU school scheme for the supply of fruit and vegetables, and milk in educational establishments which entered into force in 2017. Overall, the results of the analysis show that the share of children receiving both fruits, vegetables and milk products has increased compared to the previous period and that children benefit from a more varied supply of products. Read more

European Commission report | State of Food Security in the EU A recent report by the European Commission presents a qualitative assessment of food supply and food security in the EU within the framework of the European Food Security Crisis preparedness and response Mechanism (EFSCM). The report highlights, amongst others, growing concerns of recurring extreme weather events in the EU, continued high input prices and production costs, and food affordability as a key concern for food security. Read more

European Commission publication | Reducing consumer food waste - Recommendations for policymakers The European Commission published a list of recommendations for policy makers with the aim to help reduce consumer food waste. Consumers can change many behaviours that lead to food waste but their capacity to prevent food waste is influenced by a number of factors, including related policies. Therefore, reducing consumer food waste requires collaboration between all actors in the food system and policymakers can play a key role in addressing the issue. Read more

European Commission publication | Evaluation support study of the costs and benefits of the implementation of LEADER The European Commission published a report to assess the added value of the LEADER approach (Links between activities for the development of rural economy) and the extent to which the increased costs of implementing the LEADER approach are justified by its additional benefits. The geographical scope of the analysis is the EU27 and the United Kingdom until December 2020. The analysis covers the 2014-2022 Rural Development Programming period. Read more

RECENTLY ADOPTED OPINIONS

At its 582nd plenary session, held on 25-26 October 2023, the EESC adopted the following opinions in the field of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment: Revised monitoring framework for the circular economy EU and Agenda 2030: strengthening the implementation of the SDGs Soil Health Law Revision of the Mercury Regulation Revision of the EU waste framework Directive Plants produced by new genomic techniques

UPCOMING EVENTS

5-10 December 2023 | EESC side events at COP28 All info here

5 December 2023 | EU circular talk Waste Framework Directive - Paving the way for a circular Textiles Industry

15 December 2023 | EU circular talk Preparation of a circular construction/infrastructure project - an investors' perspective

15 December 2023 | Public hearing (save the date!) Towards an updated EU rural action plan to involve Member States, regions and civil society more closely (more info soon here)

18-19 December 2023 |  Conference (save the date!) European LEADER Congress 2023

OTHER LINKS AND NEWSLETTERS

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