Since February 24, 2022, Ukraine has been facing Russian invasion. In addition to the military and financial aid that arrives from all over the world, European and Ukrainian civil societies are working hand in hand to help the populations in distress. In this episode of The Grassroots View, we invited some of their representatives to tell us their stories.

Elena Calistru, member of the European Economic and Social 
Committee, explains how and why many Romanian citizens help fleeing Ukrainian refugees find shelter and food. She also talks about the role of the EESC which, by using the power of its network, manages to quickly set up mechanisms to help the weakest.

Marta Barandiy, founder of the NGO Promote Ukraine, based in Brussels and Kyiv, gives us a Ukrainian perspective on the situation. She tells us how her work changed when the war broke out, how the role of civil society is crucial, and how the Ukrainian people will never give up in the face of an invader.

Finally, Bartosz Wieliński, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Gazeta Wyborcza, tells about the impact of the war in Poland and how the Polish people adopt a new view on the phenomenon of refugees. For example, he explains how the school system welcomes and
helps young Ukrainians.

17. Civil societies hand in hand against barbarism

The EU and the African continent share interests and concerns: a sustainable and inclusive economic recovery, the green transition and the access to energy, the digital transformation, human development, peace and good governance or even migration and mobility. That’s why a frank and ongoing dialogue between civil society stakeholders from both sides is so important. In this episode of The Grassroots View, we have invited some of their representatives to tell us their stories.

Dimitris Dimitriadis, President of the external relations section of the EESC, explains how the Committee maintains close relations with its African counterparts and how it helps promoting European values to the world. He also talks about the growing influence of China and Russia on the African continent, and how important it is that the EU doesn't lose its presence there.

Ben Fox, Editor at EURACTIV and Africa Confidential, helps us understanding the state of civil society across Africa. He also explains how the EU can compete with other players and where its added value is.

Rose Omamo represents the metal workers in Kenya, and is the first woman to lead the union in its history. She describes how Kenyan civil society acts as the watchdog to the government and what the opportunities are for both sides of a collaboration with the European civil society.

18. Europe and Africa: a common response to common challenges

La Belgique occupe jusqu’au 30 juin la présidence tournante du Conseil de l’Union européenne. L’occasion pour Nourrir l’Europe de s’intéresser à son agriculture et plus précisément, aux « éco-régimes », ces mesures proposées aux agriculteurs dans la nouvelle PAC pour tenter d’aller encore plus loin dans les pratiques durables. L’agriculture étant une compétence régionale dans le royaume, la Flandre néerlandophone et la Wallonie à majorité francophone ont chacune leur propre plan stratégique et leurs propres éco-régimes, une exception dans l’Union européenne. 

Nourrir l’Europe vous emmène sur la frontière linguistique à la rencontre de Thomas Fastré, agriculteur wallon confronté chaque année à un casse-tête administratif loin d’être unique en Belgique. Il livre son expérience d’un an d’éco-régimes et partage des suggestions pour améliorer le système. A ses côtés, Emmanuelle Escarnot, conseillère en politique agricole auprès du gouvernement wallon, explique l’esprit des éco-régimes en Wallonie et en dresse un premier bilan.

Belinda Cloet, chargée de la coordination politique de l’Agence pour l’Agriculture et la Pêche au sein du gouvernement flamand, détaille une stratégie flamande différente en ce qui concerne les éco-régimes, mais qui porte aussi ses fruits. Jonas Lemaire, agriculteur et président du syndicat Groene Kring dans le Brabant flamand, rapporte comment les éco-régimes l’ont conduit à adopter de nouvelles pratiques, et se fait l’écho d’avis contrastés chez les agriculteurs flamands.

Enfin, Marc Blondiau, gestionnaire de programme et négociateur à la DG Agri, revient sur l’essence des éco-régimes et sur les réflexions en cours à la Commission européenne pour tenter d’alléger la charge administrative des agriculteurs.

40. #eco-regimes : les agricultures wallonne et flamande à l’heure des éco-régimes

Have you ever wondered how food in Europe is produced or where it comes from? ‘Food for Europe’ brings you stories, analysis, and in-depth interviews on agriculture, rural development, and the developments that are transforming the way we shop, eat and cultivate our precious, scattered farmland. 

Brought to you by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, the podcast will shed light on the most important European policies for food and agriculture and discuss the ambitions to become a greener and more sustainable Europe.
© European Union, 2021

40. #eco-regimes : les agricultures wallonne et flamande à l’heure des éco-régimes

Food for Europe

Related tracks