France is supporting Ireland’s candidacy of the former European Commissioner for Agriculture and Trade, Phil Hogan, for the post of Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
These were the words of French Minister Annie Genevard on her arrival at the ‘Agriculture’ Council on Monday 30 March (see EUROPE 13814/29).
For the same post, Italy is backing the candidacy of the current Deputy Director-General of the FAO, Maurizio Martina.
Spain is in the running with its Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas.
Under the Presidency of the EU Council, Cyprus’ Minister of Agriculture, Maria Panayiotou, declared her support for a coordinated approach, including the presentation of a single EU candidate in 2027. “At this stage, however, we have three candidates”, she acknowledged.. The process is ongoing and “we want to maintain the momentum. Discussions with the Member States are continuing, with the Cyprus Presidency ready to facilitate exchanges as an impartial intermediary, in a spirit of transparency”, added the Minister.
“Europe must work towards a single candidacy”, said Italy’s Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida. Mr Martina’s candidacy is supported in particular by Slovakia. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)