MEDIA ADVISORY

Third African Union - European Union Agriculture Ministerial Conference

INVITATION TO MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES

What: Third (3rd) Ministerial Conference of the African Union (AU) - European Union (EU) will be held under the theme: “Promoting Sustainable Regional Agricultural Value Chains”.

Who: The ministerial conference will be co-hosted by the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU).

When: Friday 21 June, 2019
Time: 14:30

Where: Rome, Italy (FAO Headquarters)

Official opening of the 3rd AU-EU ministerial conference:

The 3rd AU-EU ministerial conference of Agriculture will be officially opened on 21 June 2019, at 14:30 in the presence of H.E. Josefa Sacko, African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture; H.E. Phil Hogan, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development; H.E. Petre Daea, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Romania; and José Graziano Da Silva, Director-General, FAO.

Prior to the official opening ceremony high level thematic sessions will be presented on the following issues; Challenges and opportunities for agricultural investment; Agriculture research and innovation needs in light of climate challenge; Use of digital solutions in agriculture; Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS) and food safety as key for intra African trade.
Objective of the conference:
Building on the results of the successful previous conference in 2017, around 450 invited high-level representatives and stakeholders from Africa and Europe will debate on how to further unlock the potential for a positive rural transformation and an inclusive and sustainable agriculture and agri-food sector in Africa.

There is a robust political engagement to strengthen the AU-EU partnership, bring it to a higher level and to deliver on the commitment of making it a political partnership of equals. Both Agriculture Commissioners have been the frontrunners to prove this renewed engagement and to translate it into concrete meaningful and tangible steps.

At the end of the Conference, a historic Political Declaration will be signed, which will be followed by a joint press conference, committing the two continents to a shared agenda for greater action.

Journalists are invited to attend and cover the official opening ceremony of the 3rd AU-EU ministerial conference and the joint press statement on Friday, 21 June 2019, starting at 14:30 as per the attached programme.

Further Information:
Diana O. Akullo Oyena, Policy Officer - Crop Production; Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture; AU Commission/ Tel: +251 924842989; E: mail: AkulloD@africa-union.org
For media enquiry:
Molalet Tsedeke; Directorate of Information and Communication/ AU Commission/ Tel: +251-911630631; E: mail: molalett@africa-union.org