FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia

FAO Regional Priority Programme

Agrifood systems in Europe and Central Asia are still deeply affected by the process of political and economic transition. The transformation of agrifood production and markets has coincided with the process of globalization and deepening trade integration both within the region and worldwide. With greater participation in global agrifood trade, the region plays an increasingly important role as a supplier of agricultural commodities and food products to international markets.
This Regional Priority Programme, implemented since 2016, consists of three main interrelated components.
The primary goal of the Regional Priority Programme on "Transforming food systems and facilitating market access and integration" is to support member countries in enhancing the agrifood trade policy environment for small- and medium-sized agricultural enterprises in pursuit of more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems. A better trade policy environment for modern agrifood markets requires the development of capacity for trade agreements and domestic, regional and international sanitary and phytosanitary rules. Knowledge of trading partners’ requirements is essential. 

While international trade policy is usually implemented at the border, adherence to food safety, quality standards, and controls for animal and plant diseases requires the support of national systems for disease prevention and control to facilitate the safe transfer and movement of food and agricultural commodities across borders. This means that a supportive policy environment for agrifood trade encompasses not only border policies, but also policies and institutions at national and enterprise levels. Effective markets and efficient, sustainable value chains will help all actors in the production chain play their part in a cohesive food system. 
Featured news
Celebrating the power of innovation and solidarity on World Food Day
16/10/2026

More than 50 tonnes of donated food helping vulnerable Hungarian families. Twenty-one years of partnership between civil society, government and the...

EIFAAC Symposium highlights priorities for resilient inland fisheries and aquaculture in Europe
08/10/2026

Restoring freshwater habitats, strengthening climate resilience and supporting sustainable freshwater aquaculture through innovation and effective management...

Safe food and sustainable diets take centre stage at regional Codex meeting
07/10/2026

Under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and with guidance from...

Belarus workshop explores how geographical indications can support producers and rural development
01/10/2026

Organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), a workshop held in early September in Minsk helped explore how Belarus...

Fifth annual meeting strengthens regional laboratory cooperation on antimicrobial resistance
16/09/2026

The Regional Laboratory Network on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Food and Agriculture in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia concluded...

FAO and Turkmenistan partner to modernize cattle breeding services to support livestock productivity
14/09/2026

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the State Association of Livestock and Poultry Industry of Turkmenistan have launched...

Tajikistan, United Nations advance food systems transformation for better nutrition
05/08/2026

The Government of Tajikistan and the United Nations today convened the Second Joint Steering Committee meeting of the Joint SDG Fund Programme Transforming...

FAO launches online course to strengthen brucellosis control
20/07/2026

Brucellosis remains one of the world's most significant bacterial diseases transmissible from animals to humans, threatening livestock production, rural...

Young pastoralists unite in Kyrgyzstan to shape the future of sustainable rangelands
17/07/2026

In Kyrgyzstan, rangelands are under increasing pressure from climate change, land degradation and growing livestock production. Yet healthy pastures...

From chestnut forests to rural prosperity: A young family is helping transform Tropoja
07/07/2026

What began as an effort to restore an old family house has evolved into one of the best-known agritourism destinations in the Tropoja region. Today,...

Azerbaijan increases preparedness against viral livestock disease
01/07/2026

FAO designed and implemented a foot-and-mouth disease simulation exercise in Ganja, Azerbaijan, on 30 June 2026. Exercise participants included private...

Ukraine joins FAO Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
30/06/2026

Ukraine has deposited its instrument of accession to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture with the Director-General...

Countries and experts unite to combat forest invasive species across Europe and Central Asia
23/06/2026

Experts, policymakers, researchers and forestry practitioners from across Europe and Central Asia gathered in Kyrgyzstan from 9 to 11 June for the Annual...

Agricultural economics can help build resilience in times of conflict and recovery, FAO says at IAMO Forum 2026
22/06/2026

Agricultural economics has a critical role to play in preventing conflict-related shocks from deepening, said Raimund Jehle, Deputy Regional Representative...

When life (and tax revolts) give you lemons
18/06/2026

The medieval, hilltop town of Sermoneta straddles the bright blue Tyrrhenian Sea in the distance to the west and the Lepini mountain chain of the Apennines,...

Republic of Moldova joins global FAO treaty against illegal and unregulated fishing
15/06/2026

An international treaty to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing is now in force in the Republic of Moldova, linking the country to a...

Growing smarter, eating safer
05/06/2026

In western Georgia, where humid conditions and increasingly unpredictable weather create constant pressure from pests and diseases, farmers are learning...

Events

30/10

2026

Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), 30/10/2026

On 30 October 2026, FAO will hold a workshop for staff of the Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service on applying a risk-based approach to the pla...

23/10

2026

25/10

2026

Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), 23/10/2026 - 25/10/2026

From 23 to 25 October 2026, FAO and the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic will celebrate World Food Day at the Old Square in Bishkek. Under the 2026 theme “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.”, FAO will host an exhibition showcasing innovations and good practices introduced with FAO support in Kyrgyzstan, alongside interactive activities for g...

9/10

2026

Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), 09/10/2026

On 9 October 2026, FAO will hold a training on food composition data in Bishkek. The training is designed for national institutions and specialists who generate and hold food composition data. Participants will strengthen their knowledge of internationally recognized approaches to collecting, compiling, documenting and checking the quality of food composition data, and will discuss how the...

Contact

Mary Kenny
Food safety and consumer protection officer
20 Kalman Imre utca
H-1054 Budapest
Hungary
Tel: +36 1 8141-251

See also
Sustainable Development Goals