The European Union in Rome

Since 2006, the EU Delegation in Rome is accredited to the Holy See. The Holy See, led by the Pope, is active in international relations since almost 2000 years, has diplomatic relations with 184 states, the European Union and the Sovereign Order of Malta, is a member or observer in most International Organisations and an active participant in multilateral diplomacy. It has a unique global network of Apostolic Nunciatures that have both a diplomatic and a spiritual mission. For the EU, which often refers to its cultural, religious and humanist inheritance (recital 2 of the Preamble of the Treaty on European Union) and is committed to a special dialogue with churches and religious organisations (Article 17(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union), the Holy See is a significant close partner. Its global outreach and moral authority give it a distinctive role in international affairs, making engagement with the Hoy See highly important for the EU’s external action. The EU Delegation ensures the representation of EU values and interests vis-à-vis the Holy See and coordinates with EU Member States on Holy See-related foreign policy and global issues. Regular exchanges address issues such as peace and security, human rights, the fight against hunger and poverty in the world, interreligious and intercultural dialogue, migration, climate change and artificial intelligence.

Relations between the EU and the Holy See are further strengthened through Structured Dialogue on Foreign Policy and Global Issues, launched in 2015 and upgraded to Ministerial level in 2016. The EU Delegation also facilitates high-level meetings and visits, ensuring that EU positions are heard at the Vatican while drawing on the Holy See’s unique global perspective. These exchanges foster mutual understanding and enable closer coordination on responses to global challenges.

Rome is considered as the UN capital for food and agriculture with a particular focus on food security and humanitarian aid, hosting the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) since 1951, the World Food Programme (WFP) since 1963 and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) since 1976.

The three UN Agencies are complementary and united by the common objective of eradicating hunger in the world – a pledge first made at the FAO World Food Summit in 1995 and reaffirmed in the Millennium Declaration in 2000 and at the World Summit on Food Security in 2009. The UN Food Systems Transformation Summit convened by the UN Secretary General in 2021 led to the creation of a permanent hub. This shared goal of combating global hunger and poverty remains a cornerstone of EU development policy.

The EU Delegation in Rome works in the multilateral framework to represent the European Union at the three UN Organisations based in Rome. This includes regular meetings with the Ambassadors/Permanent Representatives of the 27 EU Member States to FAO, WFP, and IFAD, liaising with Brussels through preparatory bodies at the EU Council such as the Working Party on International Food and Agricultural Questions, the Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid (COHAFA), the United Nations Working Party (CONUN) on UN affairs, and the Working Party on Fisheries Policy. The Delegation consolidates EU priorities, develops outreach, and represents the EU in governing bodies, donors’ consultations, and expert meetings, thereby ensuring that EU perspectives are effectively and consistently promoted and defended, while ensuring constant dialogue with all relevant partners in Rome. In addition, the EU Delegation follows Governing Bodies and Technical Committees in the three UN Agencies based in Rome and provides feedback to headquarters in Brussels as to major developments and strategic issues.

FAO

FAO is the oldest UN Organisation, established in 1945 to fight global hunger by providing technical expertise, data and knowledge in the areas of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and nutrition. Being a Member of FAO in its own right alongside its 27 Member States, the EU, represented diplomatically by its Delegation in Rome, engages in policy and governance discussions on wider agri-food issues including agri-food systems, sustainable agriculture, food safety, fisheries, forestry, biodiversity, climate action, land and soil management and the bioeconomy. 

EU priorities at FAO focus on food security, sustainable and resilient food systems and value chains in light of global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and other geopolitical tensions. For the EU, FAO is also a very important knowledge and standard-setting organisation, notably in areas such as plant and animal health and the bioeconomy. The EU also works with FAO on climate change, biodiversity, bioeconomy, forestry, fisheries and sustainable natural resource management and supports the use of digital tools and new technologies to transform agriculture.

WFP

The WFP has a dual humanitarian and development mandate – “saving lives, changing lives” – with its core mission to deliver emergency food assistance to the most vulnerable. It also provides critical logistics and transport services, ensuring aid reaches affected populations quickly and effectively. Within the UN system, the WFP has unrivalled expertise and competence as regards organising and implementing efficient and resilient supply chains to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the most vulnerable as soon as feasible.

The EU and WFP are long-standing partners, working together closely in major crises and emergencies. As Permanent Observer of the Executive Board, the EU supports focuses on emergency response and transitional contexts, recognising WFP’s global reach, field presence, and expertise in logistics, telecommunications, procurement, and food security analysis. The EU also backs WFP’s leadership roles in humanitarian clusters.

Within the WFP, the EU Delegation participates in governing bodies and donors’ consultations, promotes the visibility of EU policies, and facilitates close cooperation among the EU’s Member States. 

IFAD

IFAD has a unique dual status, being both a UN agency and an International Financial Institution (IFI), with an exclusive mandate to support smallholder farmers. IFAD’s mandate is specifically to ‘invest in the prosperity and resilience of rural people, addressing poverty and food insecurity exclusively in rural areas through the transformation of agrifood systems, enhanced agricultural productivity, improved market access, financial inclusion, and climate resilience’. 

The EU is not a Member of IFAD but has the status of a Special Observer and as such attends the meetings of Governing Bodies, this reflecting the EU’s strategic partnership with IFAD on development and agricultural issues. Curren EU – IFAD priorities innovative financing for inclusive agri-food systems, innovation and youth employment, and climate change, resilience, carbon sequestration, and smallholders.

The CFS was set up in 1974 as a separate technical committee within FAO. It was rather marginal and invisible until a major reform in 2009 reinvigorated the Committee. This reform made the CFS:

• A Committee supported by all three Rome-based Agencies (FAO, IFAD and WFP);
• More science-based in its deliberations and recommendations through the creation of a High-Level Panel of Experts (HLPE), composed of  eminent academics.
• An inclusive body with full involvement (except for voting rights) of civil society and the private sector.
• More efficient, through the creation of a professional full-time secretariat to support the work of the CFS.

The CFS is nowadays the most inclusive global multi-stakeholder platform for promoting coordination, policy convergence and support/advice to countries and regions on food security and nutrition.

The CFS meets 1 week per year in plenary format (in October) and in-between sessions through a series of events and Open-Ended Working Groups. The Committee reports to the UNGA through the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) and to the Conference of FAO.