Luis Planas: The EU must ensure food security in a context marked by geopolitical and climatic uncertainties

Group photo of the meeting between the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, and the ambassadors to Spain of the 27 EU Member States

International food trade therefore plays an essential role in supplying the world's population with sufficient, high-quality and affordable food. The minister believes that the EU must strengthen its strategic autonomy, but with an open vision and maintaining trade relations, as the EU is one of the world's largest exporters and importers of foodstuffs.

Luis Planas met with the ambassadors in Spain of the 27 member states of the EU at an event organised by the Hungarian Embassy - the country that currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU - to whom he explained the Spanish approach to the future of the agri-food sector in the EU, faced with the challenge of providing healthy and sustainable food.

To this end, the minister expressed the need to ensure a transparent, fair and rules-based multilateral trading system that considers social, environmental and animal welfare requirements. He stressed that Spain is a strong advocate of the so-called "mirror clauses" so that imported foodstuffs comply with the same requirements as European products.

Planas also made a call for accelerating agri-food systems to make them more resistant to the effects of climate change and market crises, and to make them more sustainable from an economic, social and environmental point of view, because without profitability there will be no sustainability.

Future of European agriculture

Looking to the future, the minister stressed that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is part of the EU's strategic autonomy, as it is an essential element in the provision of food. He added that this policy must be adequately financed to ensure the stability of producers' incomes and the viability of their farms.

He also pointed out that the new European Commission is preparing a vision on agriculture and food, based on the recommendations of the Strategic Dialogue on the future of agriculture, with the aim of ensuring the competitiveness and sustainability of the agri-food sector.

Planas welcomed the fact that this document recommends improving the position of farmers in the value chain. He also noted as positive elements the importance it attaches to efficient irrigation management, CAP support for farmers who need it most, encouraging citizens to have healthier and more balanced diets, and the recommendation to move forward with innovative approaches to plant breeding.

Non official translation