In June, EU citizens took to the polls to decide the future and direction of EU politics for the next five years. The results show an EU electorate that has leaned towards the right of the political spectrum and turned its back on environmental issues.
The clear winner was the centre-right, with the EPP consolidating its place as the biggest political group and adding some additional MEPs to their ranks. The S&D (Social Democrats) remains a strong second after only a small loss. The overall influence of progressive forces, however, has considerably diminished after Renew (liberals) and the Greens took a big hit to their numbers, taking fifth and seventh place respectively and landing behind the ultra-conservatives and the far-right, who have in turn seen a remarkable increase in MEPs.
With the moderate-right group remaining the driving force, the progressives and Greens losing ground, and the far-right increasing influence, what will be the future of key macro topics shaping food policy in Europe?
Sustainability
Achieving a sustainable food chain was a core goal of the past mandate. Support for measures to tackle climate change was high, but the Commission failed to bring farmers, some Member States, and industry on board with its ambitious agenda.
The cost-of-living crisis resulting from the Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine made it hard for policymakers to progress their sustainability objectives as the public’s attention gradually turned to the economy. Indeed, some key proposals, such as the Sustainable Food Systems Framework, seem to have been put indefinitely on hold. The next mandate is expected to keep working on mitigating climate change – an unavoidable issue if policymakers want to ensure food security – but sustainability measures will be toned down to prioritise competitiveness and support for industry.
Public health ambitions
Reversing the rise in overweight and obesity rates was another key goal of the Farm to Fork strategy. This was a novelty, as food policy in the EU had historically focused on safety over nutrition.
Indeed, citizens are increasingly interested in the nutrient profile of food products, and there are ongoing discussions within the Commission on whether to set EU nutrient profiles and a legal definition for ultra-processed foods. Cultural disagreements on what constitutes a healthy diet, however, have made it difficult to progress ambitious measures such as the setting of an EU-wide front-of-pack nutrition labelling scheme. This, and an expected stronger focus on agriculture, means the public health aspect of food policy might be deprioritised in the next mandate.
Innovation
EU policymakers are increasingly aware of the need to support new technologies to help the economy and sustainability ambitions. But some political, industry and civil society groups are quite resistant to anything perceived to be ‘artificial’ or threatening to traditional industries or ways of life. Putting forward policies such as the New Genomic Techniques Regulation has been challenging indeed. The decrease in power of the Green political group, combined with the widespread political will to make the EU more competitive, might pave the way for more innovation-friendly policies, but any measures that pose a challenge to traditional sectors will keep facing opposition.
Harmonisation
The EU is based on a fragile balance between member states’ sovereignty and a common interest to align on certain issues to facilitate commercial activity and trade. For far-right and Eurosceptic parties, national identity is high on their agenda, and they have often capitalised on food and diets’ strong cultural component to advocate for protectionist national legislation.
The increase in Eurosceptic and nationalist forces in Europe will likely have a strong impact on how ambitious EU food policy will be over the next five years. The Commission might opt for feasible and minimally controversial proposals to ensure all members are on board and avoid countries going rogue with their own regulations.
Von der Leyen’s re-election
With MEPs having taken their seats in Parliament, the next step was the appointment of the European Commission’s President. On 18 July, Ursula von der Leyen – the former President and the EPP candidate – was re-elected. Her political guidelines for the next European Commission are clear: less focus on sustainability and more on competitiveness, innovation and prosperity (aka ‘it’s the economy, stupid’).
Organisations operating in the food sector need to avoid wasting time and start mobilising to build alliances with new MEPs and influence the strategies that will set the direction of EU policy until 2029.
In other news, PepsiCo has invested £13m into its Coventry factory - the UK home of Doritos.
