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FAO Liaison Office with the European Union and Belgium

Council of the European Union

FAO Brussels engages with the Council of the European Union through its General Secretariat and the rotating presidencies of the Council.

The Liaison Office facilitates the Organization’s input to a number of Council Working Parties. These include:

  • The Working Party on International Food and Agricultural Questions (AGRIFAO)
  • The Working Party on Development Cooperation and International Partnerships (CODEV-PI)
  • The Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid (COHAFA)
  • The Working Party on Genetic Resources and Innovation in Agriculture
  • The Working Party on Forestry
  • The Working Party on Commodities
  • The Working Party of Chief Veterinary Officers
  • The African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Working Party

Presidencies of the Council of the European Union

The FAO Liaison Office in Brussels works closely with the rotating Presidencies of the Council of the European Union. This collaboration includes providing information to Council Presidencies, co-organizing or participating in events related to the mandate of FAO, and coordinating the Organization’s input to various working parties of the Council on a regular basis.

Updating the Council on FAO’s activities in Brussels and worldwide, as well as providing visibility to projects and initiatives funded and supported by EU Member States are cornerstones of this partnership.

Over the past years, the Liaison Office in Brussels has developed privileged working relations with the respective rotating Council presidencies. Selected highlights of resulting cooperation are shown below:

Participation in events under the Presidency

  • 1 December – High-level conference on “Welfare of Farm Animals in the EU of 2050 – A Pathway to the Future”, held in Brussels by the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU, in collaboration with the European Commission’s DG SANTE. Daniela Battaglia, FAO Livestock Production Officer, moderated the session on “Better Market Returns on Welfare Investments and Long-Term Competitiveness”.

 

Presentations to the Council Working Parties

  • 24 September – Working Party on International Food and Agricultural Questions (AGRIFAO) – FAO Brussels Director Raschad Al-Khafaji presented FAO's priorities for the semester and highlights of the collaboration with the previous and current Presidencies (Read more)
  • 12 November – Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid (COHAFA) - Raschad Al-Khafaji, Director of FAO Liaison Office in Brussels, shared an overview of the current numbers as published in the September edition of the Global Report on Food Crises, and presented the major findings of the FAO-WFP Hunger Hotspot report underlining the catalytic role key partners and initiatives can play in the current context. (Read more).

  • Visit the website of the Danish Presidency here.

 

 

 

 

 

Participation in events under the Presidency

  • 5 March – High-level Conference on CAP and Global Food Security (Warsaw) –  In his presentation, FAO Chief Economist Máximo Torero emphasized the urgent need for coordinated global action and innovative financing—such as the new Financing for Shock-Driven Food Crisis Facility (FSFC)—to strengthen agrifood systems resilience and address rising hunger and malnutrition worldwide (read more) 
  • 15 May – International Plant Health Day Conference (Warsaw) – During the Warsaw launch of the third year of EFSA’s #PlantHealth4Life campaign, held under the Polish Presidency, Rokhila Madaminova, IPPC Programme Specialist, emphasized the importance of plant health for sustainable agriculture, food security, and environmental protection. (pictures here) and (read more) 
  • 3 June – High-level Conference on management advice to reduce Cormorant Predation Impacts (Brussels) – joint FAO/EIFAAC and Polish Presidency event. (read more) 
  • 10 June – World Food Safety Day 2025 Event – At the World Food Safety Day 2025 event in Brussels co-hosted with the Polish Presidency, Corinna Hawkes, FAO Food Systems and Food Safety Division Director, emphasized the importance of science-based, inclusive and forward-looking approaches to food safety—highlighting the role of small-scale producers, emerging food systems and international cooperation in building resilient agrifood systems (read more) 

 

Presentations to the Council Working Parties

 

  • 26 March – Working Party on International Food and Agricultural Questions (AGRIFAO) –  FAO Brussels Director Raschad Al-Khafaji presented FAO's priorities for the semester and highlights of the collaboration with the previous and current Presidencies, while UNFSS Coordination Hub Director Stefanos Fotiou briefed EU stakeholders on the strategic priorities of the upcoming UNFSS+4 in Addis Ababa, emphasizing accountability, investment mobilization and inclusive partnerships to accelerate food systems transformation globally. (read more)
  • 28 April – Working Party on Development Cooperation and International Partnerships (CODEV-PI) –  FAO Chief Economist Máximo Torero presented the global food security outlook and called for a systemic resilience approach—anchored in science, data, and innovative financing tools like the FSFC—to address rising risks in agrifood systems and strengthen coordination across governance levels. (read more)
  • 6 May – Working Party on African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) – FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa Abebe Haile-Gabriel emphasized the importance of bold action and strategic EU-Africa partnerships to build resilience and accelerate agrifood systems transformation across the African continent. (read more)
  • 11 June – Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid (COHAFA) - Raschad Al-Khafaji, Director of FAO Liaison Office in Brussels, underscored the importance of anticipatory action across the Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus, highlighting FAO’s SFERA fund as a key mechanism for proactive disaster mitigation, resilience-building, and cross-sectoral collaboration. (read more) 

 

 

  • Visit the website of the Polish Presidency here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Participation in events under the Presidency

  • 5 July – “Shaping consumer’s food choices” – Hungarian Presidency Event  (read more) 
  • 1 October – Food Loss and Waste Conference (IDAFLW 2024 observance) – joint FAO and Hungarian Presidency event (read more)
  • 3 October – FAO Brussels State of Food Insecurity (SOFI) presentation – FAO event (read more)
  • 14 October – Make aquaculture a vital part of the European sustainable food system - Hungarian Presidency event (read more)
  • 15 October – World Food Day event – joint FAO and Hungarian Presidency event (read more) 
  • 16 October 2024 - World Food Day
  • 20 November – Transforming Agrifood Systems in Europe and Central Asia – joint FAO and Hungarian Presidency event (read more) 

Presentations to the Council Working Parties

  • 11 July – Working Party on Development Cooperation and International Partnerships (CODEV-PI) and Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid (COHAFA) – participation of FAO Director of the Agrifood Economics and Policy Division (ESA), David Laborde (read more) 

  • 19 July – Working Party on Development Cooperation and International Partnerships (CODEV-PI) and Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid (COHAFA) – participation of FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, Viorel Gutu, FAO Brussels Director, Raschad Al-Khafaji (virtually) and FAO Director of the Agrifood Economics and Policy Division, David Laborde (read more)

  • 24 September – Working Party on International Food and Agricultural Questions (AGRIFAO) – participation of FAO Brussels Director, Raschad Al-Khafaji (read more)

  • 8 October – Working Party on African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) – participation of FAO’s Office of Emergencies and Resilience (OER) Deputy Director Maxwell Sibhensana (read more)

  • 14 November – Working Party on Fisheries Policy – participation of FAO Assistant Director-General and Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture Division Manuel Barange (read more)

  • 21 November – Working Party on International Food and Agricultural Questions (AGRIFAO) – participation of FAO Senior Economist and Technical Leader for The State of Food and Agriculture 2024 (SOFA), Andrea Cattaneo (read more) 

 

 

 

            Read the full report on the FAO-Hungarian Presidency collaboration


  • Participation in events under the Presidency

 

  • 8-9 February - Climate Chance Europe 2024 - Wallonia Summit - Belgian Presidency event (read more)
  • 29 February - Achieving SDG 2 without breaching the 1.5 °C threshold: A global roadmap event – FAO Brussels event  (read more)
  • 11-12 March - Open Food Conference – Belgian Presidency event (read more)
  • 18-19 March – European Summit of Regions and Cities – Belgian Presidency event (read more)
  • 18-19 March - European Humanitarian Forum 2024 – Belgian Presidency event (read more)
  • 17 April - Ensuring healthy diets for better nutrition for all event – joint FAO and Belgian Presidency event (read more)
  • 21 April – World Cocoa Conference - Belgian Presidency event
  • 6-8 May – High-level Conference on Combating Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) - Belgian Presidency event
  • 23 May - Innovation for Food System Transformation - Belgian Presidency event

 

  • Presentations to the Council Working Parties

 

  • 25 January - Working Party on International Food and Agricultural Questions (AGRIFAO) – participation of FAO Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment Director, Kaveh Zahedi (read more)
  • 25 January - Working Party on International Food and Agricultural Questions (AGRIFAO) – participation of FAO Brussels Director, Raschad Al-Khafaji (read more)
  • 22 February - Working Party on Development Cooperation and International Partnerships (CODEV-PI) – participation of FAO Agrifood Economics and Policy Director, David Laborde (read more)

 

 

Read the full report on the FAO-Belgian Presidency collaboration

 

  • Participation in events under the Presidency
  • 12 July – Participation of the Spanish Presidency representative at the SOFI launch (read more)
  • Presentations to the Council Working Parties
  • 18 July - Working Party on International Food and Agricultural Questions (AGRIFAO) – participation of FAO Brussels Director, Raschad Al-Khafaji (read more)
  • 6 September - Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid (COHAFA) - participation of FAO Emergencies and Resilience Director, Rein Paulsen (read more)
  • 10 October – Working Party on African, Caribbean and Pacific States – participation of FAO Assistant Director-General and Director of FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, Manuel Barange (read more)
  • 3 November – Working Party on International Food and Agricultural Questions (AGRIFAO) – participation of FAO Chief Economist, Máximo Torero (read more)

 

  • Participation in events under the Presidency
  • 22 March - World Water Day joint Celebration event (Read more)
  • 7 June - Strengthening the forest-based bioeconomy – a contribution to a more sustainable future with forests (Read more) 
  • Presentations to the Council Working Parties
  • 18 January - Working Party on International Food and Agricultural Questions (AGRIFAO) – participation of FAO Brussels Director, Raschad Al-Khafaji (Read more)
  • 3 February - Working Party on Development Cooperation and International Partnerships (CODEV-PI) - participation of FAO Chief Economist, Maximo Torero (Read more)
  • 8 March - Working Party on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development - participation of the Chair of the UNFSS Coordination Hub, Stefanos Fotiou (Read more)
  • 11 April - Working Party on International Food and Agricultural Questions (AGRIFAO) - participation of the Chair of the UNFSS Coordination Hub, Stefanos Fotiou (Read more) 
  • 3 May - Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid (COHAFA) - participation of FAO Brussels Director, Raschad Al-Khafaji (Read more)
  • 8 June - Working Party on Development Cooperation and International Partnerships (CODEV-PI) - participation of FAO Chief Economist, Maximo Torero (Read more)

 

  • Participation in events under the Presidency
    • FAO Brussels World Food Day Celebration ( Read more)
    • Joint high-level event on Forest and Landscape Restoration ( Read more)

  • Presentations to the Council Working Parties on
    • Working Party on Development Cooperation and International Partnerships (CODEV-PI): Food Security and Climate Change ( Read more)
    • Working Party on International Food and Agricultural Questions (AGRIFAO): Priorities for the Semester
    • Working Party on Genetic Resources and Innovation in Agriculture (Read more)
    • Working Party on Forestry ( Read more)
    • Working Party on Commodities

  • Visit the website of the Czech Presidency


  • Participation in events under the Presidency
    • Joint high-Level event on Forests for livelihoods, climate and biodiversity: solution pathways to halt deforestation (Read more)

  • Presentations to the Council Working Parties on
    • Working Party on International Food and Agricultural Questions (AGRIFAO): Priorities for the Semester (Read more)
    • Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Working Party: on FAO's work on Water Management in West Africa

  • Visit the website of the French Presidency


  • Participation in events under the Presidency
    • OACPS Intergovernmental Food Systems Summit Dialogue ( Read more)
    • FAO Brussels Dialogue and Independent UNFSS Dialogue: When science meets policy to boost food systems transformation ( Read more)
    • EU Pollinator Week 2021 ( Read more)
    • Second observance of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
    • Smart Villages for a Green, Digital and Resilient Europe ( Read more)
    • World Food Day Celebration in Brussels ( Read more)
    • Rural Areas in 2040: Addressing global challenges of rural areas with Smart Villages

  • Presentations to the Council Working Parties on
    • Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid (COHAFA) on acute food insecurity in Madagascar ( Read more)
    • Working Party on FAO Matters: Transforming our agri-food systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life ( Read more)
    • Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Working Party: on FAO's work on Water Management in West Africa ( Read more)

  • Visit the website of the Slovenian Presidency


  • Participation in events under the Presidency
    • Territorial Food Systems and Healthy Diets: Pathways for Global Transformations ( Read more)
    • European Food Systems and the role of Family Farming ( Read more)
    • Translation of the Educational Package "Do Good: Save Food" into Portuguese

  • Presentations to the Council Working Parties on
    • Working Party on FAO Matters: Priorities for the Semester ( Read more)
    • Working Party of Chief Veterinary Officers: One Health development in the FAO Strategic Framework and the establishment of a Committee on Agriculture (COAG) sub-committee on livestock. (Read more)
    • Working Party on Development Cooperation and International Partnerships (CODEV-PI): Food Coalition ( Read more)
    • Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid (COHAFA): On the UN Food Systems Summit Action Track 5 ( Read more)

  • Visit the website of the Portuguese Presidency


  • Participation in events under the Presidency
    • Internal Digital Briefing for the European Parliamentary Alliance against Hunger and Malnutrition "Sustainable Food Systems in times of Global Crises"
    • "Fish(ing) for Future": Sustainable fish for food security and nutrition in Africa (Read  more)
    • FAO Regional Dialogue for Europe and Central Asia "Joint action on COVID-19 boosting our global food and agriculture response
    • FAO Brussels World Food Day Celebration (Read more)
    • One Planet, One Health, One Future: Moving forward in a post-COVID-19 World - The importance of multilateralism and trans-sectoral partnerships for One Health and global health security
    • FAO Brussels Dialogue on Rural Employment (Read more)
    • Launch of the Parliamentary Handbook of Responsible Investment in Agriculture (Read more)
  • Presentations to the Council Working Parties on
    • Working Party on FAO Matters: Priorities for the Semester (Read more)
    • Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid (COHAFA): on the Desert Locust Situation, the impact of COVID-19 on food security (Read more)
    • African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Working Party: The importance of including the environment in a One Health Approach (Read more)

  • Visit the website of the German Presidency


  • Participation in events under the Presidency
    • Challenges and perspectives for family farming and rural youth (Zagreb)
    • Presentation of the Belgian 2 euro coin dedicated to the International Year of Plant Health (Brussels)
    • 64th Conference on Plant Protection (Opatija)

  • Presentations to the Council Working Parties on
    • Working Party of Chief Veterinary Officers
    • Working Party on Development Cooperation and International Partnerships (CODEV-PI)
    • Working Party on International Food and Agricultural Questions (AGRIFAO): Priorities for the Semester
    • Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid (COHAFA)

  • Visit the website of the Croatian Presidency

 

  • Participation in events under the Presidency
    • AGRIFISH Council (Brussels)
    • Exchange of views on action against deforestation and forest degradation (Brussels)
    • High-level brainstorming session on a sustainable food policy (Brussels)

  • Presentations to the Council Working Parties on
    • African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Working Party
    • Codex Alimentarius Working Party
    • Working Party on Development Cooperation and International Partnerships (CODEV-PI)
    • Working Party on International Food and Agricultural Questions (AGRIFAO): Priorities for the semester
    • Working Party on Genetic Resources and Innovation in Agriculture
    • Working Party on International Environment Issues
  • Visit the website of the Finnish Presidency