At the conference to launch the GI SMART research project - a community platform for information on geographical indications (GIs) - held in Brussels on Wednesday 25 June and Thursday 26 June, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen presented a number of ideas for strengthening GI development.
In particular, Mr Hansen suggested defining “a strategic framework” to promote these quality labels.
These measures include: increased support for dedicated promotional campaigns; the creation of an annual European prize for GIs, modelled on the existing prize for organic products; voluntary cooperation with supermarkets; and better exploitation of public procurement’s potential, for example by determining a percentage of GI purchases for public canteens.
He also stressed the importance of promoting GI products internationally, calling for a genuine “diplomatic offensive” and the inclusion of specific GI chapters in trade agreements with third countries.
The GI community came together at a major conference attended by over 200 participants from all over the European Union. Organised by AREPO (Association of European Regions for Products of Origin), EFOW (European Federation of Origin Wines) and oriGIn EU (Organisation for an International Geographical Indications Network - Europe), the event provided a platform for discussion on the current state and future prospects of geographical indications in Europe.
Link to the commissioner’s speech: https://aeur.eu/f/hlo (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)