The agenda defining the EU's priorities for the 2024-2029 mandate and providing guidance for institutions based in Brussels will be adopted by the 27 heads of state and government at the European Council meeting on June 27-28, according to Euractiv.

The core of agricultural policy

EU leaders are expected to place food security at the heart of the bloc's agricultural policy for the next five years, according to a draft of the EU Strategic Agenda seen by Euractiv.

The program outlines Europe's priorities for the 2024-2029 mandate, providing guidance to EU institutions and will be adopted by the 27 heads of state and government at the European Council meeting on June 27-28.

The internal document precedes the latest exchanges of views between EU leaders and indicates food security as a key priority for a "prosperous and competitive Europe," despite the fact that the issue has been scarcely discussed at EU summits in recent years.

"We ensure our food security through a vibrant agricultural sector," one of the highlights of the draft states.

The two-page text does not explicitly refer to the sustainability of the agricultural sector or environmental protection, although it prioritizes "preparing for new realities arising from climate change."

From sustainability to security

This initial draft marks a departure from the priorities of 2019, which included "promoting sustainable agriculture" and "calling on all EU countries to advance and intensify their action on climate change."

In response to widespread protests by EU farmers, the European Commission has already dropped or rolled back some of its plans to enhance the sustainability of the agricultural sector in recent months.

Faustine Bas-Defossez, director for health, nature, and environment at the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), described the absence of sustainable agriculture in the leaked 2024 agenda as "deeply worrying."

"By prioritizing 'food security' over sustainability in agriculture, EU leaders ignore the reality that climate change and natural disasters pose the biggest threats to our food security," she warned.

A study commissioned by the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee found that while food availability in the EU "is not generally considered to be at risk," the bloc relies too heavily on imports from a small group of food and feed suppliers.

According to the report, these dependencies, exacerbated by an uncertain geopolitical situation and climate change, could threaten the EU's long-term food system resilience.