Blooming Sustainability - Launching the European Growers' of Flowers and Plants Manifesto to empower Europe's Green Agenda

When? Tuesday, 9th April 2024 18:00 – 20:00 CET

Where? European Parliament - Room 3H1, Rue Wiertz 60, 1047 Brussels.

• In the pursuit of a sustainable and environmentally conscious Europe, the European Growers of flowers and plants(represented by Copa and Cogeca) believe it is imperative to recognise the fundamental importance of floriculture. This event aims to launch the European Growers Manifesto in order to raise awareness among citizens and politicians regarding the importance of this sector and its commitments.

Access to Finance - Empowering Female Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Rural Areas

When? Wednesday, 20th March 2024 15:00 – 16:30 CET

Where? Hybrid, Copa-Cogeca premises and online

• Access to finance is a top priority for the Copa-Cogeca Women’s Committee, recognising the pivotal role women farmers and rural women play in local economies. Their contributions to sustainable agriculture and the preservation of cultural heritage are vital amidst ongoing rural depopulation. However, a significant challenge cited by women farmers is the difficulty in accessing finance, hindering their economic empowerment and full participation in rural communities. With female entrepreneurs representing only one-third of self-employed individuals in the EU and women farmers accounting for 30% of farm managers, addressing gender bias in investment and other barriers is essential. This event will advocate for improved access to finance for rural women, which would not only rejuvenate rural communities but also foster the development of new business models, enhancing the viability of rural areas overall.

SAVE THE DATE – Flash action on Honey Directive (12.12.23 - Strasbourg)

When? 12 December 2023 - From 10.00-11:00 CET

Where? Rue Lucien Febvre in front of the European Parliament, Strasbourg

Who? Copa and Cogeca with the support of FDSEA67

• Copa and Cogeca’s Honey Working Party is organising a Flash action with the attendance of MEPs and EU beekeepers to express their needs and concerns ahead of a key vote in plenary for the future of the sector. This Flash action is part of the ongoing campaign titled #HoneYstlabellingnow. Following opening speeches, a visual flash action will take place around 10.30/10.45. Interested journalists will have the opportunity to exchange with beekeepers afterwards.

Puzzle it out - The interconnection between crops and livestock: the way towards more sustainable food systems

When? Wednesday, 29th November 2023 12:00 – 14:00 CET

Where? The event will be held in a hybrid format. For those attending in person the event will take place at the European Parliament - Room 5G1, Rue Wiertz 60, 1047 Brussels. For participants eager to follow the discussion online, the event will be hosted on Interactio, a multi-lingual interpretation platform.

• EU agriculture has done a lot over the years to become more sustainable and is determined to persevere in its efforts towards even more sustainability. In a sometimes very polarised public debate about agriculture, a growing narrative tends to oppose crops and livestock production. Those sectors are, in reality, profoundly intertwined and many synergies already exist. This event will thus look into the respective sustainability paths of those sectors, but also explore how efforts towards more sustainability can be maximised by further developing their synergies.

The future of livestock in the EU and beyond

When? Thursday, 28th September 2023 14:00 – 18:00 CET

Where? Concert Noble, rue d'Arlon 82, Brussels

• EU associations representing the livestock value chain have come together to organise this pivotal event on the future of livestock. Our event aims to offer an open discussion amongst scientists, policymakers, NGOs and the private sector, to show our willingness to seek dialogue with all stakeholders and address societal challenges through feasible and practical solutions. Together we can work towards bringing an end to the current polarisation around animal husbandry and the role of livestock both in our food systems and in society. The full programme will be published shortly and registration will start in August.

Copa and Cogeca Press Conference

When? Friday, 6th October 2023 14:30 – 15:30 CET

Where? Interactio Online Platform

• A one hour Press Conference by Copa and Cogeca Presidents, Christiane Lambert and Ramon Armengol, with the participation of Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen. The press conference will focus on looking at the last 2023 period of current legislations and looking toward to 2024. Following the initial opening statement by the Presidents, there will be a 30 min Q and A session for the press.

Women's Innovation Award 2023

When? Monday, 9th October 2023 15:00 – 18:00 CET

Where? European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)

• The Innovation Award for Women Farmers aims to highlight the contributions women make towards rural development, forestry and farming and it is an opportunity to showcase the inspiring and innovative activities that these rural women and farmers are doing across the EU.

Wine Harvest Press Conference 2023

When? Wednesday, 25th October 2023 14:30 - 15:30 CET

Where? Interactio Online Platform

• The 2023 Copa-Cogeca Wine Harvest Press Conference aims to provide a platform for taking stock of the past year regarding the wine harvest and discussing how the wine sector can respond to an array of challenges (such as climate change, droughts etc).

2nd Flash Action on the Nature Restoration Law

When? Tuesday, 11th July 2023 07:00 – 11:00 CET

Where? Strasbourg, European Parliament

• The Nature Restoration Law will push our farmers and producers off their land, out of business, and remove agriculture from our rural areas. The three committees of the European Parliament which tried to improve this text proposed by the European Commission, have all rejected the proposal! The reason is simple: the text as it stands has been poorly conceived, lacks clear funding and has consulted but not listened to those who will be expected to implement it on the ground. Our message is clear: YES to nature restoration, NO to THIS law on Nature Restoration. This proposal is unworkable, adds to many other initiatives that will also have strong impacts (IED, SUR) and should therefore be returned to sender!

Phasing out of cages in the EU livestock sector? First presentation of the EU-wide impact assessment commissioned by Copa and Cogeca

When? Wednesday, 31st May 2023 15:00 – 16:30 CET

Where? Online on Interactio platform

• The "End of Cage" concept has paradoxically not yet been the subject of any proper impact assessment on the implications this might have on European livestock farms. Copa and Cogeca have therefore commissioned a comprehensive study by academics and this event will be a first presentation of this study by the academics who carried it out, followed by a presentation of the policy conclusions drawn from this study by the Copa and Cogeca Chair of the Animal Welfare Working Party Miguel Angel Higuera.

NGT Press Tour

When? Monday, 22nd May 2023 09:00 – 14:00 CET

Where? Sombreffe, Belgium

• Copa-Cogeca have organised a Press tour, in joint cooperation with FWA, that will include an on-farm visit followed by presentations by our members and experts to better understand the new plant genomic techniques debate ahead of the European Commission's consultation.

Hybrid Event: Beekeeping, an agricultural sector under threat

When? Tuesday, 23rd May 2023 4-6pm CET

Where? European Parliament

• The event will take place at the European Parliament in Brussels, Room ASP 3H1, and online. The event aims to shed light on the beekeeping sector's significant challenges, such as unsustainable colony losses and a drastic decrease in production due to climate change. The market and fraud situation will be discussed, along with the results of the EU coordinated action "From the hives." Young professional beekeepers and packers with quality and traceability systems will share their experiences from the field. The round table will feature high-level panellists, including MEPs, EU Presidency and Commission representatives, and beekeepers. The event will end with closing remarks from either M. Bogovič or M. Olekas (TBC), followed by the exhibition "Bees Know no Borders" and a cocktail. Register here for event participation before 16 May. The event is supported by B-THENET, a European project promoting sustainable beekeeping and stakeholder interactions.

Press Conference by Copa and Cogeca Presidents (Online-only)

When? Tuesday, 2nd May 2023 9-10am CET

Where? Interactio online interpretation platform (following your registration you will receive an email containing the link and further information). Interpretation available in EN, FR and ES.

• A one-hour Press Conference by Copa and Cogeca Presidents, Christiane Lambert and Ramon Armengol, with the participation of Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen. The Presidents will focus their interventions on the situation of agriculture markets in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and extreme climate events as droughts and key policy files of 2023. The Presidents will also present their views on the revision of the EU legislation on animal welfare and the leaked impact assessment, ongoing institutional discussions on the Industrial Emissions Directive, Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products and the Nature Restoration Law and EU Trade policy including Mercosur. Following the interventions by the Presidents, there will be a 15mins Q&A session for the press.

New Year's greetings to the press by Copa and Cogeca Presidents (Hybrid)

When?Monday, 30th January 2022 15:00 – 16:00 CET

Where?Interactio online multi-language platform. For journalists present in Brussels, the event will take place in Meeting Room A in Copa-Cogeca's premises.

• A one hour Press Conference by Copa and Cogeca Presidents, Christiane Lambert and Ramon Armengol, with the participation of Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen. As the first press conference of the year, they will focus their interventions on a summary of 2022 and the prospective topics for 2023. Following the initial opening statement by the Presidents, there will be a 30 min Q&A session for the press.

Agri-Food Pact for Skills

When?Friday 16th December 2022 from 10:00-13:00 CET

Where?Online (the link will be shared after registration)

• As co-coordinators of the Agri-Food Pact for Skills, Copa-Cogeca are happy to invite you to the presentation on the campaign updates and upcoming activities of the Pact. The event will feature the development of the Pact, a presentation on the European year for Skills 2023 by DG EMPL and a showcase of the EU-funded projects already working within the framework of the Pact.

Fertiliser Study Tour

When?Monday 28th November from 09:30 - 13:00

Where?Farm Van Parijs-Lebrun, Wavre - BE

• Understanding the current crisis in the fertiliser markets is complex. In fact, markets are relatively opaque with particular sourcing and uses. Copa-Cogeca, in cooperation with the Walloon Agriculture Association (FWA), invites you to take part in a study trip on Monday 28th November 2022 organised on the farm of Mrs. Van Parijs-Lebrun in Wavre (40 minutes from Brussels). In addition to technical presentations, we will analyse and provide our comments on the communication on fertilisers announced by the European Commission on 9 November 2022.

INSPIRERS Project

When?Thursday, 17th November 2022, 17:00 – 19:00 CET

Where?European Parliament, Room Spinelli 3G2

• A campaign which features videos from women working in farming and agriculture. The videos provide a deeper insight into why and how agriculture is an important part of their lives. This event will bring all eight inspirers’ together along with MEP’s Carmen Avram, Simone Schmiedtbauer and Isabella Carvalhais as well as Copa-Cogeca’s Women’s Committee Chair Lotta Folkesson. Each Inspirer will present their farms and go into further detail about what they do which will be followed by a panel discussion.

PREPSOIL kick-off meeting

When? 14th-15th September 2022

Where?Aarhus, Denmark

• It is estimated that between 60 and 70% of European soils are unhealthy. Lack of knowledge and awareness of the importance of long-term soil health are major drivers of soil degradation and affects its capacity to provide the ecosystem services crucial to our planet and society. PREPSOIL will adopt a proactive approach to co-create with stakeholders, leveraging on both offline and online facilities, with the ultimate purpose of generating long-lasting interaction spaces. Furthermore, PREPSOIL will provide the first assessments and efforts towards an improved knowledge base and awareness level of soil health for multiple stakeholders. PREPSOIL’s web portal is envisaged as the European “one-stop-shop” for all information, resources and digital engagement tools for the Mission’s stakeholders. It will offer an open-source workspace, including collaboration instruments, ready to be expanded to meet further requirements.

2022 Wine Harvest Event

When?October 25th, 2022 16.00 - 18.15h CET (Registration until October 18th noon)

Where?KUDO online multi-language platform

• The 2022 annual Copa-Cogeca wine harvest event will take stock of the recent geo-political developments and explore solutions to key market, regulatory and climate change challenges affecting viticulture. Structured around three themes: international trade, innovation, and digitalisation, we will discuss the impact of the challenges, hear the producers’ needs for responding to them and examine how trade agreements, resistant varieties and digital tools can mitigate the risks and increase the wine sector’s resilience.

10th Edition of the Congress of European Farmers

When?Wednesday, 12th October 2022 - Friday, 14th October 2022

Where?Amadria Park Convention Centre, Sibenik, Croatia

• The Congress of European Farmers represents a key moment for Copa-Cogeca and its members, cooperatives, and farmers’ organisations from across the EU. This year it will take place between 12-14th October 2022 including two days of conferences and workshops and one day dedicated to technical visits, organised by our local member organisation. The main topics of the Congress include Food Security and food affordability which are now critical elements to retain in the transformation of food systems. Therefore, this year’s Congress aims to debate how to turn the aforementioned challenges into opportunities. The Congress event has been organised in close collaboration with the Croatian Chamber of Agriculture HPK (Hrvatska Poljoprivredna Komora).

Copa-Cogeca ‘Back to School’ Press Conference

When?Monday, 12th September 2022 10:00 – 11:00 CET

Where?KUDO online multi-language platform

• A one hour Press Conference online with the Copa and Cogeca Presidents, Christiane Lambert and Ramon Armengol, with the participation of Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen. The press conference will cover Copa-Cogeca's vision of a tense summer in agriculture, soaring costs, market situation and key policy files for the second half of 2022 (CAP, Industrial Emission Directive, Phytosanitary, Deforestation, Front of Pack Labeling, Nature restoration). Following the initial opening statement by the Presidents, there will be a 30 min Q and A session for the press.

Copa-Cogeca Press Conference

When?Friday, 29th April 2022 14:00 – 15:00 CET

Where? KUDO online multi-language platform

• A one hour Press Conference online with the Copa and Cogeca Presidents, Christiane Lambert and Ramon Armengol, with the participation of Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen. The press conference will focus on the Market situation and Russian invasion of Ukraine, inputs price hikes, the future CAP implementation process, and Green Deal Initiatives (Industrial Emissions Directive, Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive, Nature Restoration, Large Carnivores etc.). Following the initial opening statement by the Presidents, there will be a 30 min Q and A session for the press.

European Ruminants Animal Welfare Program

When?27th April 2022 11.00 - 12.30h CET

Where? Room Spinelli 3GA, European Parliament

• The Spanish Agro-food Inter-professional Organization of the Sheep and Goat Meat (Interovic), the Agro-food Inter-professional Organisation of the Spanish Beef Industry (Provacuno) and the Hungarian Sheep Products Council (JTT), present the campaign "European Animal Welfare of Ruminants". It is a three-year European project that shows the full commitment that Interovic, Provacuno and JTT have with all the parameters in general, and with animal welfare, which contribute positively to achieve the objectives set by the European Union through the Farm2Fork Strategy and the Carbon Neutral Target 2050. The event will have simultaenous interpretation in Spanish, English and French. The event is hosted by MEP Clara Aguilera, S-D Coordinator in the AGRI Committee

EU Organic Awards

When?Friday, 23rd September 2022

• Increases in organic farming, aquaculture and food contribute greatly to reductions in the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and anti-microbials and have positive effects on our climate, the environment, biodiversity and animal welfare. That is why organic production has been identified as playing a key role in the achievement of the objectives of the European Green Deal, the Farm to Fork strategy and the Biodiversity strategy. For this reason, the Commission has defined a target of 25% of EU agricultural land under organic farming by 2030 and a significant increase in organic aquaculture. The aim of the award is to reward the best and most innovative organic actors, contributing to the reduction of agriculture’s impact on the environment and climate, and to the achievement of EU Biodiversity and Farm to Fork strategies. It will be awarded for the first time in 2022.

“ EU Viticulture Workshop and Press Conference”

When?Tuesday, 9th November 2021 16:00 – 18:15 CET

Speakers:

• Mr Luca Rigotti, Chairman of the Working Party on Wine Copa-Cogeca
• Mr Fernando Ezquerro, Chairman of Wine Sector Cooperativas Agroalimentarias
• Ms Simone Loose, Professor Geisenheim University
• Mr Ramon Estruch, Professor Barcelona University
• Mr Kees Van Leeuwen, Professor Bordeaux Sciences Agro
• Mr Ludovic Roux, Chairman Federation of cooperative wineries in Occitania
• Mr Michael Scannell, Deputy Director General DG AGRI
• Ms Irene Tolleret, Winegrower and MEP European Parliament

“The EU Promotion Policy: An essential tool to ensure the competitiveness and sustainability of the European livestock sector”

When?Thursday, 17th June 2021 14:00 – 16:00 CET

Speakers:

• Nathalie Sauze-Vandevyver, Director for Quality, Research & Innovation and Outreach, DG AGRI, European Commission
• Erik Kam, Head of Unit on Pigmeat, Danish Agriculture Council
• Declan Coppinger, Finance Manager, BoardBia
• Professor Alice Stanton, Professor Cardiovasc Therapeutics, Intermediate Cycle Director, at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences (Dublin)
• Michele Spangaro, Head of Office, ASSICA
• Birthe Steenberg, Secretary General, AVEC
• Paolo Patruno, Deputy Secretary General, CLITRAVI

Reform of the promotion policy:

"Bringing fresh eyes to promotion of fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products!"

When?Wednesday, 9th June 2021 11:00 – 13:00 CET

Speakers:

• Janusz Wojciechowski (European Commission, Agriculture Commissioner)
• Simona Rubb (CSO, Freshfel and Chair of CDG Promotion and Quality)
• Philippe Binard (Freshfel Europe)
• Jose Antonio Garcia Fernandez (Ailimpo)
• Jean-Claude Bousigon (APFel SO)
• Giulia Montanaro (Assomela)
• Erik Kam (Danish Agriculture Council)
• Leonardo Pofferi (Confcooperative)
• Claire Martin (COPA COGECA and Cooperation Agricole France - Vice Chair CDG Promotion and Quality)
• Bruno Menne, (COPA-COGECA)
• MEP Paolo De Castro (S&D)
• MEP Irène Tolleret (Renew)

Green and Digital Transition, the Potential of Women within the Green Deal

When?  Tuesday, 1st June 2021 14:30 – 16:00 CET

Speakers:

• Lesia Radelicki, member of cabinet to the Commissioner Helena Dali
• Christiane Lambert, President of FNSEA and President of Copa; Charlene Lambert, Founding Board Member of WEP
• Dr Boglarka Biro, forest engineer and farmer in Hungary
• Ines Theunis, livestock farmer in Belgium.
• Lotta Folkesson, Chairwoman of Copa-Cogeca’s Women’s Committee
• Froukje de Jong-Krap, farmer in the Netherlands
• Carin van Huët-Laan, Head of Food & Agri Finance, Rabobank
• MEP Sean Kelly, member of Comm ITRE

Moderator:

• Moderator: Dick Veerman, Founder of Foodlog

Adequate Minimum Wages; a close look at the legal consequences

When?Friday, 4th June 2021 13:00 – 15:00 CET

Organised by CEEMET, European Chemical Employers Group with the support of Euro Commmerce, Copa-Cogeca, HOTREC, WECeurope and the EFCI.

The speakers discuss the risks of the proposed 'Directive for an Adequate Minimum Wage'. Different approaches to the matter will be shared as well as a focus on conflict of competence and the impact on existing collective bargaining systems.

European Livestock Voice & Carni Sostenibili joint event

"Food and Farming: What Future for Europe?"

When? Wednesday, May 5th, 2021 15:00 - 16:30 CET

Where? KUDO online multi-language platform (EN,FR,ES)

Registration until 18th February, 18:00 CET

Speakers:

• Claire Bury, EU Commission, Deputy Director General, DG SANTE
• Herbert Dorfmann, European Parliament, AGRI Rapporteur
• Pekka Pesonen, Secretary General, Copa-Cogeca
• Luigi Scordamaglia, President, Assocarni

Moderator:

• Angelo Di Mambro, Brussels Correspondent for ANSA agency and Informatore Agrario

Press Conference: Situation of agricultural markets 2021

"Trade and internal market uncertainties"

When? February 19th, 2021 14.00 - 15.00h CET

Where? KUDO online multi-language platform (EN,FR,ES)

Registration until 18th February, 18:00 CET

Speakers:

• Christiane Lambert, President, COPA
• Ramon Armengol, President, COGECA
• Pekka Pesonen, Secretary General, Copa-Cogeca

SECOND EUROPEAN LIVESTOCK VOICE DEBATE

"In a jungle of labels, what is driving animal welfare practices?"

Animal welfare is an essential preoccupation for all actors in the livestock sector, as well as for consumers, and has led to debates at various levels, both national and European, including in the Farm to Fork strategy. As a consequence, various policies, standards and labelling schemes have sprouted from different sources like producers, NGOs, national or EU institutions… This debate will look at the impact on actual animal welfare and consumer confidence.

Speakers:

• Inês Ajuda, Manager of the farm team at Eurogroup for Animals
• Denis Simonin, Senior Expert on animal welfare at the European Commission’s DG on Health and Food Safety
• Peter Sandøe, Professor of bioethics at the University of Copenhagen since 1997
• Trine Vig Tamstorf, Chief policy advisor for animal health and animal welfare at the Danish Agriculture and Food Council

SMART AGRI HUBS PROJECT WEBINAR

Post COVID-19 in the agri-food sector: A new way of working for DIHs and farmers

Press Conference: EU wine harvest and market situation

Press Briefing by the Chairman of Copa and Cogeca Wine Working Party Mr Thierry Coste focusing on the wine harvest 2020, impact of COVID-19, Brexit, CAP and long term strategy for the wine sector.

Biodiversity Strategy 2030

the Future of the EU Countryside - Filling the Gaps

• MEP Alexander Bernhuber (EPP)
• MEP Isabel Carvalhais (S&AmpD)
• MEP Elsi Katainen (Renew Europe)