Janusz Wojciechowski
Commissioner for Agriculture, European Union
The invasion of Ukraine has shown us the importance of ensuring food security at all times, within the EU and worldwide. This objective, enshrined in our founding Treaties some 65 years ago, is today as important as ever.
For the global food system, the loss of grain exports from Ukraine means that up to 25 million tonnes of wheat must be substituted in the current and the next season. This is indispensable for overall world food needs, which are also affected by a likely reduction of Russian exports. Combined, Ukraine and Russia are responsible for over 30% of world wheat exports.
Increasing food insecurity
The strong price increase on cereal markets puts global food security at risk, affecting vulnerable people in food deficit countries. We must shield vulnerable countries, notably in Africa, the Middle East and in the European Neighbourhood region from pressures on food availability and prices.
This is why we have adopted the Communication on “Safeguarding food security and reinforcing the resilience of food systems.”
The communication sets out actions in three areas:
- First, it presents our immediate actions to safeguard food security in Ukraine and around the world.
- Second, we have addressed the challenge of food stability in the EU’s food system, with a range of measures to support our farmers and maintain affordability for our citizens.
- Finally, we confirm our agenda to make our food system sustainable and resilient in the years to come.
We need to act together, within the European Union and with our international partners.
Acting together to tackle challenges
Security, stability and sustainability are the words that define our response. I am confident that while we face a significant challenge, we can overcome it. We have been challenged before, most recently during the COVID pandemic. That is why we are not waiting; we are acting.
But we need to act together, within the European Union and with our international partners. We need to face this crisis together, to address the challenges we are confronted with and to persevere with our long-term strategy of making our food systems more sustainable and resilient. If we act together, we can meet our challenges.
Unbreakable links
I recall the words of Professor Walter Hallstein, our first Commission President. When he worked to bring European farmers together under the Common Agricultural Policy, he said: “The links we are forging here today will never again be broken.”
These links have lasted us and for 60 years. They were not broken during the Cold War, they were not broken during COVID pandemic; and let me say, in no uncertain terms: they will not be broken now.