Table of Contents

SUMMARY OF MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS

INTRODUCTION

Opening Ceremony

Election of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairpersons and Appointment of the Rapporteur

Adoption of the Agenda and Timetable

Statement by the Director-General

World Food Summit Follow-up

Food Safety and Quality – Ministerial Round Table

Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources - Ministerial Round Table

Review of the State of Food and Agriculture in the Region

Report on FAO Activities in the Region 2000-2001

International Year of the Mountain

Date, Place and Main Theme(s) of the Twenty-Fourth FAO Regional Conference for Europe

Any Other Business

Adoption of the Report

Closure of the Conference

APPENDICES:

A.	List of Participants
B.	Agenda
C.	Statement by the Director-General
D.	List of Documents
E.	Recommendations Stemming from the FAO/WHO Pan European Conference on Food Safety and Quality
F.	Recommendations forwarded by the 32nd Session of ECA to the 23rd FAO Regional Conference for Europe on Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources: Combating Desertification and Prevention of Land Degradation
G.	General Statement by the Representative of the NGOs/CSOs Consultation in Preparation for the World Food Summit: Five Years Later
H.	General Statement by the Representative of the NGOs/CSOs Consultation in Preparation for the Item on Food Safety and Quality
I.	General Statement by the Representative of the NGOs/CSOs Consultation in Preparation for the Item on Sustainable Management of Natural Resources

FAO members in the European Region (November 2001)

Date and place of FAO Regional Conferences for Europe

SUMMARY OF MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS

World Food Summit Follow-up

For the attention of Governments

The Conference:

1. expressed concern at the slow pace at which food security was being achieved in many countries of the world (para. 12);

2. highlighted that the fight against undernutrition and poverty required a sustained effort from governments, international organizations, financial institutions, NGOs and civil society at large (para. 15 (a));

3. highlighted the need to look at the right to food and how this right can be effectively implemented (para. 15 (g));

4. highlighted the need to further discuss a code of conduct on the right to food (para. 15 (h));

5. hightlighted the important role played by fisheries in supporting food security and attention should be given to the improvement of sustainable fishery management practices (para. 15 (i)).

For the attention of FAO

The Conference:

6. took note that there was a need to strengthen FAO’s focus in the European Region,especially for countries in transition and non members of FAO, by addressing issues which were of common concern for the fundamental reform which should take place in the agricultural sector in Europe, such as food safety, land reform and market access (para. 13).

Food Safety and Quality

For the attention of Governments

The Conference underlined:

7. the importance for all stakeholders to invest and participate in an integrated food safety approach (para. 22 (a));

8. the need to reinforce food safety and quality policies (para. 22 (b));

9. improve the transparency of food safety control systems (para. 22 (c));

10. further develop and extend throughout Europe systems for early detection and prevention of food safety hazards (para. 22 (d));

11. the need for countries in transition to build up their capacity in food safety inspection and control systems (para. 22 (e));

12. further develop scientific and research networks, and education on food safety issues (para. 22 (f)).

For the attention of FAO

The Conference:

13. endorsed the conclusions of the Pan-European Conference and requests that its recommendations be forwarded to member countries, the European Union, international organizations and non-governmental/civil society organizations (para. 20);

14. took note of the importance of food safety in the enlargement process of the European Union and of the call for FAO and WHO to play an enhanced role in assisting countries that are not part of the enlargement process (para 21);

15. called for a follow-up to the Pan-European Conference recommendations covering the 22 countries in Central and Eastern Europe targeted at methodologies for risk analysis, capacity building and rapid alert (para. 21);

16. took note of the proposal of the Delegation of France to place food safety and quality issues as one of the main items on the agenda of the 24^th European Regional Conference and to undertake the technical preparation of this item within the framework of the 33^rd Session of the European Commission on Agriculture (ECA) (para. 23).

Sustainable management of Land and Water Resources

For the attention of Governments and FAO

The Conference:

17. took note of the cohesion between the work of FAO on land degradation issues and the objectives of the 6^th Environmental Action Programme and the strategy for soil protection to be adopted by the European Union, which provided an additional framework for collaboration (para. 27 (c));

18. took note of the proposal to organize an international workshop to foster regional collaboration and allow exchange of experiences and methodologies (para. 27 (d));

19. took note of the need to strengthen and promote inter-country cooperation in forest fire management and refinement of tools for forest fire control in order to protect and maintain diversity in forests in Europe (para. 27 (e));

20. took note of the situation regarding land degradation and desertification in a number of member countries (para. 28);

21. endorsed the recommendations forwarded by the 32^nd Session of the European Commission on Agriculture (ECA) (para. 29);

22. urged member countries, FAO and all relevant international and regional agencies to promote their implemention in the European Region (para. 29);

23. underlined the importance of maintaining and strengthening the existing collaboration between FAO and the UNCCD Secretariat (para. 29).

Review of the State of Food and Agriculture in the Region

For the attention of Governments

The Conference:

24. acknowledged the conclusions contained in the document (para 33);

For the attention of FAO

25. requested that in future documents, the fisheries and forestry sectors be included in view of their importance for food security and rural development (para. 33).

Report on FAO Activities in the European Region 2000-01

For the attention of FAO

The Conference:

26. acknowledged that the European Commission on Agriculture, within its revised mandate, had successfully prepared the item on sustainable management of land and water resources for review by the Conference (para. 35);

27. noted that FAO should further develop its collaboration with the Central European Initiative (CEI) working group on agriculture (para. 36);

28. highlighted the importance of maintaining FAO servicing of ESCORENA with its focus on transfer of research results to developing countries and countries in transition (para. 38);

29. expressed its support for a project approach to service ESCORENA and called for funding in the regular budget of FAO for its continuation (para. 40);

30. welcomed the proposal of France to provide a visiting scientist for secretariat support to ESCORENA (para. 41).

Date and Place of the Twenty-fourth FAO Regional Conference

For the attention of Governments

The Conference:

31. welcomed the renewed offer by France to host the next Conference and also welcomed the offer by Latvia to host the 25^th FAO Regional Conference for Europe in that country (para. 44);

For the attention of FAO

32. agreed that both offers should be conveyed to the Director-General for decision in consultation with the Members of the Region (para. 44).

INTRODUCTION

1. The Twenty-third FAO Regional Conference for Europe was held in Nicosia, Cyprus from 29 to 31 May 2002 at the invitation of the Government of Cyprus.

2. The List of Participants is given in Appendix A to this Report.

OPENING CEREMONY

3. The Director-General of FAO, Mr Jacques Diouf, welcomed the participants to the Conference and expressed appreciation to the Government of Cyprus for the generous hospitality and excellent facilities that had been provided for the Conference.

4. The President of Cyprus, His Excellency Glafkos Clerides, welcomed participants to the Conference, expressed his pleasure at hosting such an important event and stressed the need to strengthen measures to eradicate hunger. He emphasized that policies should address support to sustainable management of land and water resources, and issues of food safety and quality.

ELECTION OF THE CHAIRPERSON, VICE-CHAIRPERSONS AND APPOINTMENT OF RAPPORTEUR (AGENDA ITEM 2)

5. The Conference unanimously elected Mr Costas Themistocleous, Minister for Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment of Cyprus, as Chairperson. In referring to the Agenda of the Conference he indicated that it included items of great importance to the Region. He highlighted, in particular, the issues of food security and the fight against hunger; sustainable management of land and water resources; and food safety and quality.

6. The delegations of the following countries were elected as Vice-Chairpersons:

• France
• Poland
• Spain

7. Mr Jón Erlingur Jónasson, Deputy Permanent Representative of Iceland to FAO, was elected as Rapporteur.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA AND TIMETABLE (AGENDA ITEM 3)

8. The Conference adopted the Agenda as given in Appendix B to this report and the Timetable for the session.

STATEMENT BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL (AGENDA ITEM 4)

9. The Director-General delivered his Statement to the Conference, the text of which is given in Appendix C to this report.

WORLD FOOD SUMMIT FOLLOW-UP¹ (AGENDA ITEM 5)

10. The item was introduced by the Regional Representative for Europe, who stressed in her remarks the importance of the forthcoming World Food Summit: five years later.

11. Ten Heads of Delegation intervened on this agenda item, as well as a representative from the European NGOs/CSOs Consultation² who presented a statement.

12. The Conference expressed concern at the slow pace at which food security was being achieved in many countries of the world. Member countries, in general, reiterated their commitment to achieving WFS goals and speeding up the process.

13. The Conference took note that there was a need to strengthen FAO’s focus in the European Region, especially for countries in transition and non members of FAO, by addressing issues which were of common concern for the fundamental reform which should take place in the agricultural sector in Europe, such as food safety, land reform and market access.

14. The Conference took note that the EC and its member states would be signing the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, as adopted by the 31^st Session of the FAO Conference, before the WFS: fyl.

15. The Conference highlighted the following points:

1. the fight against undernutrition and poverty required a sustained effort from governments, international organizations, financial institutions, NGOs and civil society at large;
2. a general consensus existed that the main responsibility for the attainment of food security rested with national governments, pursuing rural development policies aimed at creating enabling environment for private agriculture;
3. during the 30^th Session of the FAO Conference in 1999 the concept of a global alliance against hunger was launched and a call was made for closer collaboration between IFAD, WFP and FAO in this respect;
4. the main objective of a global alliance against hunger could be to promote a stronger focus on rural poverty for national policies and international coordination;
5. a global alliance against hunger should not establish new structures or lead to overlapping, but rather build on existing institutions with mandates relevant to the issue of food security. The three Rome-based agencies should build upon their cooperation in the preparation for the Monterrey Conference of Financing for Development to develop further the concept of an alliance;
6. the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) was the appropriate forum for coordination for a possible global alliance against hunger and could be extended to include WFP, IFAD, the World Bank and the regional development banks;
7. the need to look at the right to food and how it can be effectively implemented;
8. the need to further discuss a code of conduct on the right to food; and
9. fisheries played an important role in supporting food security and attention should be given to the improvement of sustainable fishery management practices.

16. The Conference expressed its appreciation for the document³ prepared on this item, which provided an overview of undernourishment in countries with transition economies and presented challenges for achieving WFS goals in the European Region. It took note of the activities carried out by FAO in the Region to support countries in meeting WFS commitments. It was in agreement with the findings regarding food insecurity in the European Region and supported the recommendations of the document.

17. The Conference also took note of the efforts made by members to implement the WFS Plan of Action.

FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY⁴ (AGENDA ITEM 6)-
MINISTERIAL ROUND TABLE

18. The item was introduced by the Chief, Food Quality and Standards Service, FAO, and the representative of WHO, who highlighted the results of the FAO/WHO Pan-European Conference on Food Safety and Quality⁵ and outlined the recommendations forwarded to the Conference. The Conference was informed that the report from the FAO/WHO Pan-European Conference would be presented to the 52^nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in September 2002.

19. Twenty five Delegations, including five Ministers, seven State Secretaries/Deputy Ministers and a representative from the European NGOs/CSOs Consultation intervened on this agenda item⁶.

20. The Conference endorsed the conclusions of the Pan-European Conference and requested that its recommendations, which are given in Appendix E to this report, be forwarded to member countries, the European Union, international organizations and non-governmental/civil society organizations.

21. The Conference further took note of the importance of food safety in the enlargement process of the European Union and of the call for FAO and WHO to play an enhanced role in assisting countries that are not part of the enlargement process. It was highlighted that the level of food safety and quality in the European Region still needed to be improved, and measures should be found to gain consumer confidence and ensure consumer protection. A follow-up to the Pan-European Conference recommendations was called for, covering the 22 countries in Central and Eastern Europe and targeted at methodologies for risk analysis, capacity building and rapid alert.

22. In the debate, the member countries underlined, inter alia, the following issues:

1. it was important for all stakeholders to invest and participate in an integrated food safety approach;
2. food safety and quality policies needed reinforcement;
3. transparency of food safety control systems should be improved;
4. systems for early detection and prevention of food safety hazards had to be further developed and extended throughout Europe;
5. countries in transition needed to build up their capacity in food safety inspection and control systems;
6. scientific and research networks; and education on food safety issues had to be further developed;
7. intra-regional cooperation was an effective tool for food safety and quality development and should be further expanded; and
8. discussions on food quality aspects, with specific emphasis on nutritional balance, regional diversity of diets, variety of food production methods and consumer expectations across the European Region should be initiated.

23. The Conference further took note of the proposal of the Delegation of France to place food safety and quality as one of the main items on the agenda of the 24^th European Regional Conference to be held in 2004 and to undertake the technical preparation of this item within the framework of the 33^rd Session of the European Commission on Agriculture (ECA) to be held in early 2004.

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF LAND AND WATER RESOURCES
(AGENDA ITEM 7)- MINISTERIAL ROUND TABLE

24. The item was introduced by the Director of the Forest Resources Division, FAO, and Chair of the IDWG on Desertification, who outlined the recommendations forwarded to the Conference by the 32^nd Session of the European Commission on Agriculture (ECA).

25. The Director of the Agriculture Research Institute of Nicosia reported on the situation regarding land degradation and desertification in Cyprus.

26. Fourteen Heads of Delegation and a representative from the European NGOs/CSOs Consultation⁷ intervened on this agenda item

27. The Conference took note of following issues:

1. an illustration of a range of causes and processes of land degradation including waste deposit and pollution, and the initiatives to alleviate it in Europe;
2. prevalence of land degradation also in Northern and Central European countries;
3. cohesion between the work of FAO on land degradation issues and the objectives of the 6^th Environmental Action Programme and the strategy for soil protection to be adopted by the European Union, which provided an additional framework for collaboration;
4. proposal to organize an international workshop to foster regional collaboration and allow exchange of experiences and methodologies; and
5. the need to strengthen and promote inter-country cooperation in forest fire management and refinement of tools for forest fire control in order to protect and maintain biological diversity in forests in Europe.

28. The Conference also took note of the situation regarding land degradation and desertification in a number of member countries.

29. The Conference welcomed the documentation prepared on this item and endorsed the recommendations forwarded by the 32^nd Session of the European Commission on Agriculture (ECA). It urged member countries, FAO and all the relevant international and regional agencies to promote their implementation in the European Region and underlined the importance of maintaining and strengthening the existing collaboration between FAO and the UNCCD Secretariat to that effect.

REVIEW OF THE STATE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTRE IN THE REGION⁸ (AGENDA ITEM 8)

30. The Conference welcomed the document prepared by the Secretariat on this item, which outlined recent developments in agriculture and rural development in the European Region and inter alia highlighted several aspects of EU enlargement and their potential effect on agriculture and the rural sector in the future.

31. The Conference was informed that no final decision had yet been taken on the chapter concerning agriculture in the EU accession negotiations. The European Council should adopt a common position on this issue by June 2002. An update of recent agricultural production trends in EU was provided.

32. The Conference was informed of developments in the agricultural and rural sectors of a number of member countries and noted their call for further FAO technical assistance at national and regional level in Central and Eastern Europe to address a range of issues such as modernization of agriculture, capacity building, land consolidation and animal disease control.

33. The Conference acknowledged the conclusions contained in the document. It requested that in future documents, the fisheries and forestry sectors be included, in view of their importance to food security and rural development.

REPORT ON FAO ACTIVITIES IN THE EUROPEAN REGION 2000-2001 (AGENDA ITEM 9)

34. Three documents⁹ were introduced under this item by the Secretariat and the Chairperson of the European Commission on Agriculture (ECA).

35. The Conference took note of the report of the Chairperson on the 32^nd Session of ECA.¹⁰ It acknowledged that the European Commission on Agriculture, within its revised mandate, had successfully prepared the item on sustainable management of land and water resources for review by the Conference.

36. The Conference noted that FAO should further develop its collaboration with the Central European Initiative (CEI) working group on agriculture.

37. The Conference also considered the document on the European System of Cooperative Research Networks in Agriculture ESCORENA¹¹, which had been revised by the Secretariat at the request of the 32^nd Session of the European Commission on Agriculture (ECA).

38. The Conference generally expressed its satisfaction with the revision of the document and highlighted the importance of maintaining FAO servicing of ESCORENA, with its focus on transfer of research results to developing countries and countries in transition.

39. The Conference stressed the importance of ESCORENA as the research networks bring added value not only to European scientists and their research institutions, but also to partners and beneficiaries beyond European borders.

40. The Conference expressed its support for a project approach to service ESCORENA and called for funding in the regular budget of FAO for its continuation.

41. The Conference welcomed the proposal of France to provide a visiting scientist for secretariat support to ESCORENA. It noted that this scientist would require funding in order to be able to work according to the mandate described in Appendix 3 of the document¹². The Conference was informed that there were no funds available for this purpose in the FAO Programme of Work and Budget (PWB) 2002/2003 and that the Secretariat would examine the issue and make proposal to try to find a solution.

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE MOUNTAINS: 2002¹³
(AGENDA ITEM 10)

42. The Conference took note of the activities undertaken by FAO as lead agency for the preparation and coordination of the International Year of the Mountains (IYM) and plans for follow-up activities in cooperation with all the UN agencies, international civil society organizations and member countries. It noted the need for resources to complete these tasks.

43. The Conference was also informed of the different activities undertaken, at national and regional levels, by a number of member countries in the European Region, including a number of conferences and consultations in cooperation with FAO.

DATE, PLACE AND MAIN THEME(S) OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH FAO REGIONAL CONFERENCE FOR EUROPE (AGENDA ITEM 11)

44. The Conference welcomed the renewed offer extended by the Delegation of France to host the next Conference. The Conference also welcomed the offer extended by the Delegation of Latvia to host the 25^th Regional Conference for Europe. The Conference agreed that both offers should be conveyed to the Director-General for decision in consultation with the Members of the Region.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS (AGENDA ITEM 12)

45. None were raised.

ADOPTION OF THE REPORT (AGENDA ITEM 13)

46. With some amendments, the text of the draft report was approved by the Conference.

CLOSURE OF THE CONFERENCE (AGENDA ITEM 14)

47. In its capacity of Chairperson of the European Regional Group, the Delegation of Poland expressed, on behalf of the Conference, deep appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Cyprus for the warm welcome extended to all delegations, the excellent facilities provided which contributed to the smooth and efficient conduct of the Conference and for the extremely generous hospitality offered. The Delegation of Poland also wished to place on record the Conference’s appreciation for the care and attention with which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus had organized the study tour providing a good view of some aspects of the country relating to landscapes, food and people.

48. On behalf of the Director-General of FAO, the Regional Representative thanked the Government of the Republic of Cyprus for the excellent facilities provided.

¹ ERC/02/3 and ERC/02/3-Sup.1

² held in Nicosia on 26 and 27 May 2002. Statement attached as Appendix G to this Report.

³ ERC/02/3

⁴ ERC/02/4, ERC/02/4-Sup.1 and PEC/REP

⁵ held in Budapest on 25-28 February 2002.

⁶ Statement attached as Appendix H to this Report.

⁷ Statement attached as Appendix I to this Report..

⁸ ERC/02/6

⁹ ERC/02/2, ERC/02/INF/6 and ECA/02/4-Rev.1

¹⁰ held in Rome in March 2002.

¹¹ ECA/02/4-Rev.1

¹² ECA/32/02/4-Rev.1

¹³ ERC/02/INF/5