The elections of the European Parliament between 6–9 June 2024 will mark the beginning of a new EU cycle. Millions of Europeans will vote to elect their representatives in the European Parliament, the EU’s only directly elected institution. Elected Members of the European Parliament will carry citizen’s messages and concerns from a regional, national and European level during the next 5 years.
In the next EU cycle they will shape laws that are key for the future of the organic sector, such as sustainable food systems policies or the coexistence of organic and conventional systems (for example residues of phytosanitary products in organics or measures to keep the organic supply chain free from gene-edited products). MEPs will also scrutinize the works of EU institutions and will vote on new international agreements on trade in organic products with key trading partners.
Because OPTA Europe’s mission is to advance the interests of organic companies through effective advocacy and partnership, this elections year is an essential moment in realising our goals. Our ‘Looking Ahead’ roadmap has been developed to communicate to political candidates the values that we carry and the priorities that we would like to see addressed during the upcoming 2024-2029 legislative term.
This elections year is an essential moment in setting the tone and influencing the EU agenda for the following years.
But candidates to the European Parliament are selected at national level and compete for the votes of their national electorates, and feel the pressure to be more visible to their voters. During these weeks of elections campaign, political parties and candidates present their programs in their constituencies and engage in face-to-face contact with citizens to understand their expectations and needs. This is an excellent opportunity for national, regional and local organic communities and associations to assert their role as stakeholders and ensure that future Members of the European Parliament have a better understanding of the issues the sector faces and to influence their programs.
On the eve of the European elections, OPTA Europe encourages organic stakeholders to raise their voice and prepare the future of the sector.
OPTA Europe encourages organic stakeholders at all geographical levels to make the most out of the communication and advocacy opportunities in this electoral period. This implies reaching out to candidates, exchanging about the future food system of Europe and ensuring that the messages and priorities of the sector are heard and well understood.
The race to define the political agenda of the next political cycle is on. Let’s seize the occasion to shape a more organic Europe.
Author: Aurora Abad, OPTA Association Manager
Bio Eco Actual, International Organic Newspaper
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