MED9 agriculture ministers meet on the initiative of Slovenia
As part of the programme of Slovenia's presidency of the group of nine EU Mediterranean Member States – the MED9 Group (consisting of the Republic of Cyprus, the French Republic, the Hellenic Republic, the Republic of Croatia, the Italian Republic, the Republic of Malta, the Portuguese Republic, the Republic of Slovenia and the Kingdom of Spain), a meeting of ministers of agriculture was held at the invitation of Slovenia's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food.
The central focus of the discussion was sustainable risk management in agriculture. Climate change and increasingly frequent weather extremes pose a growing threat to agriculture in the MED9 member states, mainly due to droughts, floods, water shortages, and the spread of diseases and pests. This has a serious impact on crops, food security and the stability of farmers' income, further highlighting the vulnerability of the agricultural sector in the region.
The ministers and other representatives of the MED9 member states were unanimous that, given the gravity of the situation, it is essential to accelerate and systematically improve risk management. Coordinated measures are needed at EU level to support the adaptation of agriculture, ensure stable incomes for farmers and enable sustainable food production for all consumers. They also stressed their shared commitment to developing effective risk management mechanisms that will encourage investment and innovation. They highlighted the need to improve coordination between different EU policies, research programmes and crisis response mechanisms.
They agreed that a strategic approach, the use of digital solutions and modern technologies, as well as financial mechanisms to enable better risk and crisis management are key to strengthening the resilience of agriculture and of the entire food chain. They also highlighted the importance of international cooperation, the exchange of good practices and the supporting legislation that will ensure a sustainable and safe food supply for all EU citizens.
The discussion provided important guidance for the continued dialogue at the informal meeting of agriculture ministers to be held in Slovenia in early October. The meeting is scheduled to include a ministerial conference and the adoption of a declaration for greater resilience and sustainability of agriculture in the Mediterranean.