SOTEU: The right ingredients but an empty plate for food systems
On 16 September, Ursula von der Leyen delivered her sixth State of the Union address in Strasbourg, setting out the Commission’s priorities regarding security, climate targets, the cost of living, competitiveness, and jobs. Although security was a key part of her speech, it did not include any measures on food security. Nor did it address […]
Food may finally be given its own place in EU procurement law
The European Vegetarian Union welcomes the proposal for the Public Procurement Act, which recognises food as a key procurement sector and introduces positive changes such as the Best Price-Quality Ratio. However, EVU warns that some of these improvements are still voluntary and lack binding requirements. The European Commission’s proposal revising the EU’s public procurement framework, […]
European Parliament to vote on “veggie burger ban” for the third time
PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Brussels, August 26, 2026 European Parliament to vote on “veggie burger ban” for the third time The debate over “veggie burgers” naming has returned, with MEPs tabling amendments to the ongoing full revision of the Common Market Organisation (CMO) Regulation during the summer break. In February this year, the […]
European Commission Unveils Plan to Strengthen Europe’s Plant Protein System
PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Brussels, July 7, 2026 European Commission Unveils Plan to Strengthen Europe’s Plant Protein System The European Commission has today published its long-awaited EU Protein Plan, setting out a framework for scaling up sustainable plant protein production in the EU and building an autonomous and resilient protein system. The Plan […]
Farmers at the centre: European Parliament event explored the future of agricultural diversification
On the 24th of June, the event ‘Grown in the EU’ demonstrated a growing interest in agricultural diversification. The discussion brought together farmers, policymakers and experts from across the EU to exchange views on how diversification can strengthen farm resilience and create new opportunities for European farmers. Most importantly, we heard directly from farmers who […]
Portugal to propose National Plant-based Protein Strategy – Will the EU follow?
Portugal’s government to propose national plant-based protein strategy – Will the EU follow? The Portuguese government has made headlines with its groundbreaking commitment to develop a national plant-based protein strategy as part of its updated National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP). The NECP‘s outlines EU Member-States’ plans for a sustainable transition and are submitted for […]
Solving a problem that didn’t exist: how plant-based label bans confuse consumers
When the French government introduced in 2021 a decree that prohibited the use of “meaty” denominations for plant-based foods, the rationale it presented to justify the new law largely rested on the notion of consumer confusion. Calling plant-based products by familiar names like “burger,” “steak,” or “sausage” misleads shoppers into thinking they’re buying animal-based products […]
Why sustainability should be in every dietary guideline
Recent updates to national dietary guidelines across Europe reveal a growing shift in how governments approach food consumption. Countries like Germany, The Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, and Norway have started recommending reduced meat consumption and increased intake of plant-based foods. Importantly, a number of these countries – although not all – are also integrating sustainability and […]
How the debate on food security and tradition is distorted to promote meat production
On 15 July 2024, and at Budapest’s initiative, EU agriculture ministers were invited to discuss the need to protect Europe’s culinary traditions from novel and innovative foods – that is, plant-based foods and cultivated meat. In light of the pressing issues facing our food systems, the importance and topic of this meeting were both deeply […]
Opinion: Farmers and the plant-based transition: unlikely partners or perfect pair?
The agricultural sector is crucial to Europe’s heritage, supporting communities, generating employment, and providing food on our tables. But farmers are expressing anger and frustration over a range of reasons, from unfair trading practices and bureaucracy to environmental measures – as demonstrated by the recent waves of protests across the European bloc. Opinions are increasingly […]
