The counsellors agreed a Final Declaration with recommendations on Food and Nutrition Security and highlighted the importance of the civil society mobilization for the debate on Sustainable Development, at Rio + 20.

The Fourth Roundtable took place in Brasilia, Brazil, on April 26 and 27, 2011. The main goal was to promote the debate on food and nutrition security and sustainable development, in the scope of Brazil – EU strategic partnership. The meeting was co-chaired by EESC president, Mr. Staffan Nilsson, and CDES counsellor, Mr. Clemente Ganz Lúcio. Technical Director for the Inter-Union Department of Statistic and Socio-Economic Studies – DIEESE Mr. Nilsson stressed that the roundtable, a permanent dialogue forum, is an extension of the work initiated in 2003 and part in the Brazil – EU strategic partnership architecture. He said that food and nutrition security is a fundamental human right and both institutions – CDES and EESC – recognize its relevance. EESC’s president also declared that Brazil regarding policies to address the hunger issue is a model, considering that it is necessary to look at both sides of the coin, because economic development must be accompanied by social inclusion.

CDES and EESC counsellors adopted a final declaration, which claimed that their national governments should implement economic and political measures to promote food and nutrition security within their territories. Beyond that, the Final Declaration emphasized the importance of the sustainable development and the need to create a civil society mobilization strategy for participating on the United Nations Conference, Rio +20. This strategy will be developed during the fifth roundtable between CDES and EESC, which shall be held in Europe, on the second semester, 2011.    

Food and nutrition security

CDES’s counsellor, Mr. Alberto Broch, president of the National Confederation of Agriculture Workers – CONTAG, and EESC’s counsellor, Mr. Mario Campli, president of the Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment presented the roundtable main theme: Food and Nutrition Security. Mr. Christopher Leather, OXFAM representative, has also made an intervention and presented some reflections on the topic.

During the discussion, they draw attention to the fact that food and nutrition are essential for health and, consequently, a human and social right - as defined in the Joint Action Plan of the World Food Summit - and shall be supported by Brazil and EU in all international organizations.

It is consensus between the counsellors that, in order to guarantee the right to an adequate nutrition, it is necessary to respect food sovereignty, which confers to the countries the priority regarding food production, regulation and consumption. So, the Councils recommend that sovereignty and the right to food should be included in national legislations and improved in the international governance related to food and nutrition security.

Another topic discussed was the agriculture markets financeirization and speculation; which elevated international agriculture commodities prices and made them more volatile. On this matter, the councils recommended permanent watch, in order to better understand price formation. Considering the negatives effects of export subsidies on food prices, the idea that food and nutrition security must be a principle in all international commercial agreements and in all WTO rules was supported.

The counsellors also attempted to the importance of the balance between food and nutrition safety and energetic issues, especially agro fuel production, water matters, and climate change.

Sustainable Development: topic of the next roundtable

During the meeting, minister André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, from the Ministry of External Relations, summarized the Brazilian proposal for the civil society participation at the Rio +20 Conference. He explained that Brazil adopts a sustainable development concept that incorporates the balance between three pillars: economic, social and environmental. Mr. Francisco Gaetani, vice – minister for the Environment was also present at the meeting and talked about the Brazilian position and strategies for the Rio+20 Conference. According to the vice-minister, there is no better argument than the example. So, Brazil is adopting a strategy of implementing as many environmental compromises as possible until the Conference aiming to encourage others to do the same.  

Mrs. Carmem Foro, National Secretary for the Environment Central Workers Union – CUT, and CDES counsellor, and Mr. Lutz Ribbe, Director of the Environmental Policy Section of the European Nature Heritage Fund (EURONATUR), and EESC counsellor, both intervened with presentations that elucidated and enriched the discussions on sustainable development. One of the main debate elements was the need to mobilize civil society for an effective participation at the next UN Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio +20, in 2012.

CDES and CESE partnership Timeline, which started in 2003

Roundtable Memory

CDES has been exercising the dialogue between social leaders and the government in order to construct proposals on relevant issues for the country’s development. International cooperation is a strategic topic on CDES action aiming at: constructing networks, exchanging experience and promoting joint action to disseminate and improve instruments and institutions for an effective social dialogue in Brazil and in the world.  

The main goal of the roundtable is try to build consensus between social leaders from Brazil and the European Union, which are consolidated in joint recommendations at the Final Declaration. Twelve members from each Council compose the roundtable, they meet twice a year and the meetings are alternated in Europe and Brazil. The outcome of the roundtable in the form of the Final Declaration is presented at the Brazil – EU Head of States Summit.

In July 2009, the First roundtable meeting, in Brussels, addressed the theme: “Social impacts of the international economic crisis and the development challenges: The role of the State and the civil society”. The second meeting, in January 2010, in Belen, Brazil, addressed the” Conventions on Climate and the world energetic matrix”. During the third meeting, in September 2010, in Belgium, the topic was “Civil Society participation as a factor of equality and social cohesion”.