NAT section newsletter

 

July 2025 ■ eesc.europa.eu/nat ■ Our current & future opinions

EDITORIAL BY PETER SCHMIDT

Europe at a crossroads: civil society perspectives on the new geopolitical order The world is changing rapidly – and not necessarily for the better. Climate chaos, food insecurity, and geopolitical instability are converging to create a perfect storm. In this challenging context, the voice of civil society is more vital than ever. This is why the EESC has launched a comprehensive reflection on the implications of the emerging geopolitical order for the EU and it reiterates that the right to food must be upheld as a cornerstone of peace and stability. 💬Read more in the editorial

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Organic awards | Finalists announced! The finalists for the 2025 EU Organic Awards have been officially announced, celebrating outstanding contributions to organic production and consumption across the European Union. Twenty-one finalists from thirteen EU countries have been selected across seven categories. Winners will be revealed at the official ceremony in Brussels on 23 September, during the EU Organic Day celebrations. Read more

MEET OUR YOUTH DELEGATE TO COP

Meet our new EESC Youth Delegate to COP 2025-2026! Originally from the island of Mayotte (France), Samira Ben Ali is a passionate climate justice advocate dedicated to amplifying the voices of communities most vulnerable to the climate crisis: climate and biodiversity actions should not only be inclusive but also responsive to the realities of those most affected by the crisis. In this short interview, she talks us through her involvement in climate and biodiversity action back home and her expectations for this mandate. Read more 🎬Watch video

OUR FEATURED NEWS

Regenerative agriculture should anchor EU green, farming and economic policies  The EESC has called on the EU to scale up regenerative agriculture, saying it can help rebuild soil health, restore biodiversity, and protect food production from extreme weather events resulting from climate change. Regenerative forms of agriculture are an opportunity to define a new positive narrative for European agriculture, with a focus on healthy soils, strong rural communities, and sustainable food systems. Read more  🎬Rapporteur's video

Burning billions: Europe’s addiction to fossil fuel subsidies must stop The EESC has delivered a stark but necessary message: fossil fuel subsidies must go! They are not only financially unsustainable, but socially and environmentally damaging. They prop up an outdated energy model, stifle the clean energy transition and contradict the EU’s legally binding 2050 climate neutrality target. Worse still, they funnel public money into a system that disproportionately benefits wealthier households and large polluters, while the social and environmental costs are quietly offloaded onto the public. Read more

EESC Memorandum of Understanding with ERP On 25 June, during its NAT Section meeting, the EESC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the European Rural Parliament (ERP), represented by ELARD, PREPARE, and ERCA. This MoU reaffirms and formalises their long-standing collaboration to strengthen rural civil society’s voice in EU policymaking and promote sustainable rural development. It establishes a framework for joint activities, knowledge exchange, and closer cooperation on key issues such as territorial cohesion, just transition, and the future of rural areas.

United Nations Ocean Conference The United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) took place in Nice from 9 to 13 June 2025 and convened under the overarching theme ‘Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean’. The EESC was represented by Mr Javier Garat. As part of the EU delegation, the EESC engaged in meaningful discussions, bilateral meetings, and side events to call for more effective global cooperation and actions in line with the recently published European Oceans Pact. More generally, the messages that the EESC brought to UNOC3 were built on the exploratory opinion Civil society's vision for a European Oceans Pact, adopted in March 2025.

European Commission and EESC reaffirm partnership on Circular Economy Platform at EU Green Week launch At the official launch of EU Green Week 2025, EESC President Oliver Röpke and Commissioner Jessica Roswall, came together to underline the importance of stakeholder engagement in accelerating the transition to a circular and resilient economy. They both praised the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform as a key tool for fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange and progress on circularity in Europe. Read more

ECESP Stakeholder Day on 5 June: a resounding success! On 5 June, the EU Green Week closed with the Stakeholder Day organised by the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform and Circular Cities and Regions Initiative, featuring plenary sessions, workshops and stands enabling participants to hear what policymakers had to say, listen and put questions to experts in the field, and get together at the stands to meet other members of the circular community. Read more 🎬Watch recordings

EESC event | EU wine policy package  On 20 May 2025, the EESC held a public hearing to collect stakeholders' views on the European Commission's legislative proposal on the EU wine policy package. Stakeholders discussed the industry's role in the EU’s agri-food sector, but also the alignment of production and demand, how to enhance resilience to market and climate challenges and how to adapt to changing consumer preferences and exploit new market opportunities.🎬Video recording 📌PPTs

EESC event | Trade and sustainability: Reciprocity in agri-food systems for a fair green transition  On 21 May 2025, the EESC held an event on the link between trade policy and sustainability, with a particular focus on agri-food systems. Through panel discussions, participants exchanged views on the role of reciprocity in achieving a fair green transition, and on how a trade policy based on fairness and common standards can effectively support the EU’s sustainability ambitions.  🎬Video recording 📌PPTs

EESC event | The EU's contribution to the second UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) Stocktaking Moment  On 31 March 2025, the EESC, in collaboration with FAO, hosted a public hearing to explore the state of progress of the EU on the path to more sustainable, fairer and inclusive food systems, following the new actions agreed upon during the UN Food System Summit (UNFSS) in 2021 and the recent publication of the EC vision on agriculture and food. 🎬Video recording

ALSO ON THE AGENDA

EEA | Social fairness in preparing for climate change: how just resilience can benefit communities across Europe A recent report by the European Environment Agency points out that by integrating justice into adaptation efforts and addressing the unique needs and vulnerabilities of different social groups, policymakers can create more resilient and equitable communities that are better prepared to cope with climate-related hazards. But efforts to build this resilience must leave no one behind. While some progress is being made to embed justice considerations into adaptation efforts, implementation remains inadequate. Read more

SDSN | Sustainable Development Report 2025 The Sustainable Development Report (SDR) reviews progress made each year on the SDGs since their adoption by all UN Member States in 2015. Ahead of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, Spain, this 10th anniversary edition of the SDR outlines urgent reforms to the Global Financial Architecture and includes for the first time an assessment of which countries have most progressed on the SDGs. Read more

Global Report on Food Crises 2025  The Global Report on Food Crises (a collaborative effort among United Nations agencies, regional intergovernmental bodies, donors, technical organisations and clusters) provides in-depth analysis of food and nutrition crises at the global, regional and country level. It examines acute food security and malnutrition among resident and forcibly displaced populations, presents the immediate and underlying drivers of food and nutrition crises, and analyses nine years of acute food insecurity trends. It advocates for timely responses and offers insights into immediate and medium-term risks to vulnerable populations. Read more

FAO | Review of the state of world marine fishery resources – 2025 Maintaining the long-term prosperity and sustainability of marine fisheries is not only ecologically significant, but has social, economic and political importance. This report provides a comprehensive, objective and global review of the state of the living fishery resources of the oceans. The report explores major trends and changes at the global level while more detailed information on the status of stocks for each of the FAO Major Fishing Areas is set out in dedicated regional chapters. Read more

European Commission | Horizon Europe work programmes  On 14 May the Commission adopted the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025. Actions in Cluster 6 - Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment - will focus on understanding and addressing the main drivers of biodiversity loss, developing innovative methods for biodiversity protection and restoration, and helping develop new biodiversity friendly practices in agriculture, forestry and aquaculture. Read more

European Commission JRC | The Impact of Official Development Assistance cuts on food security and nutrition  The Joint Research Centre review provides an initial overview of the impact of the sudden cuts in Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the USA and of reductions by other OECD countries on food security and nutrition. The review identifies the sectors most affected by expected cuts and assesses emergency situations in vulnerable countries. It also explores the possible role of key global players and brings together recommendations from key stakeholders. Read more

European Commission | Health Policy: Call for proposals for the 2025 Thematic Networks The Commission invites health stakeholders to submit proposals for a new cycle of Thematic Networks under the EU Health Policy Platform. The networks are intended to boost collaboration with stakeholder organisations and produce a joint statement expressing their position and proposing actions. One of the relevant public health areas is "A One Health Network to enable the dialogue between stakeholders at the intersection between human, animal, and plant health and the environment". Deadline for submissions: 22 August 2025. Read more

PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS

Have your say! Citizens and businesses can share their views on new EU policies and existing laws. All initatives here. Today in the spotlight: EU agricultural policy – strategy to promote generational renewal (expires 14/07/2025)

RECENTLY ADOPTED OPINIONS

At its 596th and 597th plenary sessions, held in April and June 2025, the EESC adopted the following opinions in the field of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment: Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies while ensuring European competitiveness, mitigating the cost-of-living crisis, and promoting a just transition Regenerative agriculture as a target towards enhancing sustainable food production, supporting climate and biodiversity objectives Protection status of the wolf Simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism

UPCOMING EVENTS

8 September 2025 | Online Sustainability in the new geopolitical order – challenges and opportunities towards 2030 (more info soon)

OTHER LINKS AND NEWSLETTERS

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