On 11 February 2026, Europatat joined more than 40 European agri-food organisations in co-signing a joint statement addressed to EU leaders ahead of the EU Leaders’ Retreat on 12 February. The statement underlines that the European agri-food chain, generating over €1 trillion in gross value added, is a strategic pillar of the EU economy, food security and geopolitical resilience.
Signatories call for an ambitious EU competitiveness agenda that places agriculture and food at its core. In particular, we urge EU institutions to:
- Reduce administrative burdens and regulatory complexity
- Modernise outdated legislation that hampers innovation
- Ensure legal clarity and predictability for operators
- Strengthen strategic independence and resilience through investment in the agri-food value chain
The coalition stresses that simplification, modernisation and competitiveness must be central to the EU policy agenda, as investing in the agri-food chain means investing in Europe’s security and preparedness.
Download the full joint statement here.
