European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
food security
Ten issues to watch in 2021
The year ahead of us is critical in many ways: 2021 is the first year of recovery after the coronavirus pandemic hit the world in 2020. In the five-year European political cycle, it is a year in which progress towards significant action and implementation are expected, after a first year generally more focused on declarations and planning. And global events and geopolitical tensions make it no less critical at international level. Continue reading
World Food Programme: Food for peace
On 9 October 2020, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) ‘for its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict’. Continue reading
Food trade and food security in the coronavirus pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has not only created a global public health crisis, but it has had a significant effect on the global economy and international trade. Continue reading
The EU poultry meat and egg sector: Main features, challenges and prospects [Policy podcast]
Poultry meat is the second most produced and consumed meat in the European Union, after pig meat. The sector is known as one of the most intensive farming systems in the EU, with some farms numbering more than 100 000 birds. Continue reading
Plenary round-up – Strasbourg, March I 2019
Highlights of the March I plenary session included debates on Brexit, preparation of the European Council meeting of 21-22 March 2019, and the latest debate on the Future of Europe, with Peter Pellegrini, Slovakia’s Prime Minister. Continue reading
Farming without plant protection products
Food security and healthy food for 11 billion people by 2100 is one of the biggest challenges of this century. It is one of the most important, if not the most important, human rights, and any agricultural system has to fulfil this requirement within the planetary sustainability boundaries. Continue reading
Unfair trading practices in the food supply chain [EU Legislation in Progress]
The food supply chain ensures that food and drink products are delivered to the public. It affects all consumers in the EU. The final price paid by the consumer is impacted by the number of participants in the food supply chain. While the single market has brought benefits to operators in the supply chain through more market opportunities and a larger customer base, it has also brought challenges. Structural changes have occurred, leading to different levels of bargaining power and imbalances between actors in the chain. The abuse of such differences may lead to unfair trading practices. Continue reading
Global Trendometer – Essays on medium- and long-term global trends – July 2018
The EU faces challenges from both outside and within its borders. Most of these are the symptoms of big underlying trends, and handling them requires foresight. The annual Global Trendometer aims to provide such foresight for decision-makers in the EU, by analysing the changes in these long-term trends. Continue reading
Policy Coherence for Development: still some way to go
Written by Marta Latek Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) has become an EU legal obligation, after years of slow progress. PCD aims to incorporate development concerns in non-aid policies in order to minimise contradictions, and if possible, create synergies between policies. However, despite a reiterated political commitment and reinforcement of the institutional framework to follow … Continue reading
Common Agricultural Policy after 2013: What will change
The 50-year old Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is heading for a new reform to tackle current challenges such as climate change, food security and sustainable management of natural resources. Over the years, it has moved away from supporting market prices to supporting producers’ income and rural development, while imposing rules for the protection of the … Continue reading
Millennium Development Goals beyond 2015
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are a set of indicators for development cooperation in the period up to 2015. Their review, which may redefine development cooperation, has started. Future of the MDGs The United Nations (UN) is planning an event in autumn 2013 to assess progress in achieving the MDGs and look towards the post-2015 … Continue reading
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