FoodDrinkEurope e-News

Setting the ground for a renewed High Level Forum

The High Level Forum for a Better Functioning Food Supply Chain met for the last time under its current mandate in October. It has been a very active period for the members of the High Level Fourm, whose representatives (Sherpas) also met in September to discuss the achievements of the Forum and set the objectives for the expected renewal of its mandate.

The mandate of the current High Level Forum will come to an end by December 2014; however, all the stakeholders involved including outgoing Commissioners are calling on the EU institutions to prolong its mandate and, finally, to establish a permanent High Level Forum for the industry. 

FoodDrinkEurope has been also consistently highlighting the importance of the High Level Forum to promote and tackle the competitiveness of the European food and drink agri-food chain. 

During the current mandate of the High Level Forum, many projects and initiatives have been achieved, including:

• the creation of The Supply Chain Initiative – Together for Good Trading Practices;

• the study on the impact of food taxes on the competitiveness on the food and drink industry;

• the ‘Regulatory Fitness check’ of the food sector and the assessment of existing barriers in the Internal Market;

• the establishment of a structured Social Dialogue with EFFAT[1]; and,

• the development of a common vision for a more sustainable, innovative, inclusive and resource-efficient food supply chain. 

This last meeting also adopted the High Level Forum’s final report, which calls upon the Commission to renew its mandate for five years (2015-2019).  FoodDrinkEurope is confident that the mandate of the High Level Forum will be renewed, at least for five years, so that progress can be even more substantial and beneficial to the whole food supply chain. 

Check out some highlights from the September event in the photos below and click here to read FoodDrinkEurope’s statement.