CFS:2002/4-Sup.4

I. REPORT OF THE TWENTY-THIRD FAO REGIONAL CONFERENCE FOR EUROPE (ERC/02/REP)

SUMMARY OF MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS

12. The Conference expressed concern at the slow pace at which food security is being achieved in many countries of the world. Member countries, in general, reiterated their commitment to achieving WFS goals and speeding up the process.

13. The Conference took note that there is a need to strengthen FAO’s focus in the European Region, especially for countries in transition and non members of FAO, by addressing issues which are of common concern for the fundamental reform which should take place in the agricultural sector in Europe, such as food safety, land reform and market access.

14. The Conference took note that the EC and its member states would be signing the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, as adopted by the 31^st Session of the FAO Conference, before the WFS: FYL.

15. The Conference highlighted the following points:

1. the fight against undernutrition and poverty required a sustained effort from governments, international organizations, financial institutions, NGOs and civil society at large;
    
2. a general consensus existed that the main responsibility for the attainment of food security rested with national governments pursuing rural development policies aimed at creating an enabling enviroment for private agriculture;
    
3. during the 30^th Session of the FAO Conference in 1999 the concept of a global alliance against hunger was launched and a call was made for closer collaboration between IFAD, WFP and FAO in this respect;
    

4. the main objective of a global alliance against hunger could be to promote a stronger focus on rural poverty for national policies and international coordination;
    

5. a global alliance against hunger should not establish new structures or lead to overlapping, but rather build on existing institutions with mandates relevant to the issue of food security. The three Rome-based agencies should build upon their cooperation in the preparation for the Monterrey Conference of Financing for Development to develop further the concept of an alliance;
    
6. the Committee for Food Security (CFS) was the appropriate forum for coordination for a possible global alliance against hunger and could be extended to have WFP, IFAD, the World Bank and the regional development banks to participate;.
    
7. the need to look at the right to food and how this right can be effectively implemented;
    
8. the need to further discuss a code of conduct on the right to food;
    
9. fisheries played an important role in supporting food security and attention should be given to the improvement of sustainable fishery management practices.

16. The Conference expressed its appreciation for the document¹ prepared on this item, which provided an overview of undernourishment in countries with transition economies and presented challenges for achieving WFS goals in the European Region. It took note of the activities carried out by FAO in the Region to support countries in meeting WFS commitments. It was in agreement with the findings regarding food insecurity in the European Region and supported the recommendations of the document.

17. The Conference also took note of the efforts made by members to implement the WFS Plan of Action.

___________________________

1 ERC/02/3