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

Le 61ème épisode de Nourrir l’Europe revient sur la conférence du 17 octobre qui a réuni à Bruxelles tous les acteurs du Réseau d’information comptable agricole, le RICA. L’occasion de fêter les 60 ans du réseau mais aussi de se tourner vers l’avenir avec l’évolution du RICA en Réseau d’information sur la durabilité économique des exploitations agricoles ou RIDEA.

Si la base de données comptables a joué un rôle capital pour évaluer l’impact des politiques agricoles et les ajuster, elle a aussi permis aux agriculteurs d’avoir une vue d’ensemble de leur gestion. Quant au monde académique, on ne compte plus les travaux de recherche rendus possibles par ces données de terrain communes à tous les États-membres. En intégrant des données environnementales et sociales, le RIDEA veut refléter l’évolution récente de la Politique agricole commune. Seuls les agriculteurs qui se porteront volontaires seront sollicités.

Pour bien comprendre la valeur ajoutée du RICA et du RIDEA, Nourrir l’Europe a tendu son micro, dans les allées de la conférence, à Patrizia Engelhart-Getzinger, une jeune agricultrice autrichienne qui alimente le réseau en données depuis des années. Katre Kirt, qui dirige l’unité RICA/RIDEA au Centre estonien de recherche et de connaissances rurales, nous parle des défis rencontrés par les collecteurs de données dans son pays. Alessandra Kirsch, ingénieure agronome et docteure en économie et politique agricole en France, nous explique comment le RICA a alimenté ses travaux de recherche, encore utiles aujourd’hui à la Commission européenne. 

Enfin, Bence Tóth, chef adjoint de l’unité Analyse et Perspectives de la direction générale de l’agriculture et du développement rural de la Commission européenne explique le calendrier de mise en place du RIDEA et répond aux questions soulevées par les autres invités du podcast.

61. RIDEA : une vision à 360° sur la durabilité économique agricole

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

61. RIDEA : une vision à 360° sur la durabilité économique agricole

Food for Europe

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