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About the IFOAM EU Group |
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The IFOAM EU Regional Group is an independent regional group within
IFOAM. It is therefore a part of IFOAM and works within its
structures. IFOAM is made up of over 700 member organisations
coming from over 100 countries worldwide. There are some 300 IFOAM
members in the EU and they cover the complete range of organic
organisations, including consumer associations, producer associations,
other professional groups, research establishments, certification
bodies, consultants, development organisations, commercial companies
and retailers.
The EU Regional Group was formally constituted in February 2000
following its first general assembly. Whilst it is new, it
replaced the EU Working Group, which was formed in 1990 with a similar
structure, but which was under the direct responsibility of IFOAM’s
World Board.
It is registered as an international not-for-profit organisation in Sweden.
Aims and Objectives
The EU Group represents IFOAM members in EU, EFTA (European Free Trade
Area) and (since its second general assembly in February 2003)
Candidate countries and is a forum for common interest, information
exchange, development and policy work. Its objectives are defined
in its statutes and can be summarised as:
- To promote within the EU the principles and practices of organic
agriculture and food production as set out in the IFOAM Standards.
- To coordinate and represent IFOAM members in EU countries, within IFOAM, in the EU and elsewhere.
- To enable the exchange of information both between IFOAM members in EU countries and with other bodies worldwide.
- To assist in the coordination and dissemination of research in organic food production throughout the EU.
- To work towards the establishment of common policies within the Group in relation to the above.
The Group recognises the international importance of organic
developments within the EU and aims to ensure there is adequate
communication and cooperation with other groups within IFOAM, so that
common interests and concerns are identified and addressed.
The EU Group Board
Primary responsibility is vested in a Board, which is elected every
three years and is endorsed by the General Assembly. Board
members are elected nationally, ie the IFOAM members in each
EU/EFTA/Candidate country elect one Board member and one substitute.
This structure is more a practical than a principle choice and is
designed to fit in with the structure of the European Union - much of
the Group’s focus is directed at the EU and it is regarded by EU
officials as the principle representative of the organic sector in the
EU.
Board members are responsible for communication to and from the member
organisations in their countries and for bringing those views to the
Group. However Board members also have a wider perspective,
working and acting in the greater interest of the EU (and
international) organic movement as a whole.
The EU Group Board holds formal meetings three or four times a year in
different member countries. Much of the work is carried out in
sub-committees that have responsibility for specific subjects (eg
Regulation, Policy, Research, Administration/Finance). These
prepare positions for discussion and agreement by the Board and then
are responsible for carrying them forward.
Regular meetings are held in Brussels at the invitation of Commission
officials. These consultative meetings are an important channel
of direct communication between the two parties. Views are
exchanged on the ‘organic’ regulation 2092/91, research, the rural
development programme and other CAP-related issues.
The EU Group Board is also represented on a number of Commission
committees, including the advisory committee on quality and health, the
standing group on organic farming, the expert working group on the
European organic action plan and several expert working groups of the
standing committee on organic farming (the ‘article 14 committee’).
Office in Brussels
The EU Group established an office in Brussels on ocotber 2003 to strenghten the organic voice in the EU. and to increase our activities in the four key
areas of:
- Regulation - working towards further harmonisation between IFOAM standards and 2092/91.
- Research - participating in relevant research projects, especially in dissemination of results.
- Policy - working to
achieve an effective European organic action plan and in the longer
term working with other like minded organisations to lobby for a more
sustainable CAP.
- Enlargement - ensuring that the Candidate countries are able to play their full part in the EU Group’s activities.
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