On 22 July 2026, the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) is set to approve the attendance of two senior FAO officials at the Working Party on International Food and Agricultural Questions (FAO) on 9 September 2026. The Director of the FAO Liaison Office in Brussels and the FAO Senior Social Policy Officer have been invited by the Presidency to present FAO's priorities and social protection policies, respectively, and to exchange views with the Working Party.
The invitation, considered by the Presidency to be in the Council's interest and compliant with rules on occasional third-party presence at Council or preparatory body meetings, aims to strengthen cooperation between the EU and FAO. The Director of the FAO Liaison Office will outline FAO's strategic priorities for the coming months, while the Senior Social Policy Officer will present FAO's social protection programmes designed to foster inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.
The Working Party on International Food and Agricultural Questions (FAO) is a preparatory body of the Council that coordinates EU positions on food and agricultural matters within the FAO framework. The meeting on 9 September will provide a platform for direct dialogue between EU member state representatives and FAO experts, potentially influencing EU policy directions in international food and agricultural governance.
If approved, the presence of FAO officials at the Working Party would mark a step towards deeper engagement between the EU and FAO on social protection in agrifood systems. The exchange could inform future EU initiatives on sustainable agriculture and rural development, particularly in the context of the EU's Farm to Fork Strategy and its commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.