The Council of the European Union’s Working Party on International Food and Agricultural Questions (AGRIFAO) invited the FAO Brussels Director Raschad Al-Khafaji to update the Council Working Party on recent developments in food and agriculture, as well as on upcoming FAO activities.
Marking the 35th anniversary of the European Union’s membership in FAO, the Director highlighted how three and a half decades of collaboration have evolved into a strategic partnership that continues to deliver results for food security, sustainable development and resilient agrifood systems.
Reflecting on the FAO-EU Strategic Dialogue held in July 2026, Al-Khafaji underlined the shared commitment to further enhance the strategic and impactful partnership for food security, sustainable agrifood systems, resilient investments and coherent responses to global challenges.
The briefing also underscored FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-2031 and its vision of transforming agrifood systems to become more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable, ensuring better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all.
A wide range of priority cooperation areas was discussed, including food security and nutrition, sustainable bioeconomy, innovation and digitalization, climate action, biodiversity, One Health, international standards and resilience-building in fragile and crisis-affected contexts. Participants also received updates on FAO-EU initiatives implemented under the Global Gateway, showcasing tangible results and partnerships across multiple regions.
Al-Khafaji further emphasized FAO’s unique role as a trusted source of technical expertise, standards, data, scientific evidence and policy guidance, helping governments and partners make informed, evidence-based decisions.
Concluding the presentation, he stressed that the complementary strengths of FAO and the EU create a powerful platform for action. By combining technical expertise, innovation, global reach and strong political commitment, the partnership can help scale transformative solutions and deliver lasting benefits for people, communities and agrifood systems in Europe and around the world.
