For a Solidary, Fair, and Sustainable Society

The issue of food security and combating undernutrition is mainly addressed through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), a major instrument of the European Union for the intra-European agricultural and fisheries sector.

There are various visions on the solutions for developing sustainable agriculture and strengthening food security, ranging from technological and robotic solutions (EPP) to investments in innovations and technologies for better resource management (Renew Europe), promoting short supply chains and food sovereignty (The Left), and investing in the agroecological transition of farms and supporting sustainable food systems at the territorial level (The Greens).

Few parties concretely address the issue of access to healthy and sustainable food, except those proposing reforms concerning social protection systems.

At the global level, only The Greens dedicate a section to achieving SDG Zero Hunger when talking about foreign policy, while considering the impact that the CAP can have on food security in partner countries. The program emphasizes the importance for the EU to work on a resilient and sustainable global food system to implement the right to food, prioritizing agroecological approaches and aligning its trade policies with the principles of food sovereignty and addressing climate issues.

 Action Against Hunger advocates for a just and radical transformation of global food systems through agroecology while minimizing technological and robotic false solutions.

Absent from international cooperation policy propositions, as European programs focus particularly on European social systems, with a focus on meeting essential needs and the right to dignity.

The Greens propose introducing a right to food as a principle in European legislation developing social security mechanisms at the national level to ensure access to healthy food while supporting local supply chains.

The Left proposes a European directive for a basic income obliging Member States to guarantee a minimum income to cover basic needs for a decent life (food, housing, energy, access to culture, emergency funds).

The issue of migration is present in all programs with particular attention to migrant rights in only a few programs, focusing on sea rescue (S&D, Renew Europe, The Greens) but also on the necessary cessation of agreements with countries violating human rights (The Left, The Greens) or the necessary establishment of legal and safe migration routes inspired by the example of welcoming Ukrainian refugees in Europe (The Greens).

 Action Against Hunger promotes the implementation of coherent, transparent, accountable, and inclusive policies, particularly through universal and feminist social protection. Action Against Hunger advocates for the protection and dignified and unconditional reception of displaced persons and refugees throughout their migratory journey, including during sea search and rescue operations. Action Against Hunger also opposes any political instrumentalization of development aid for managing migration flows.

Despite the significant increase in crises and humanitarian needs worldwide, issues related to humanitarian action in the EU’s external action are largely absent from European programs.

Some parties emphasize the importance of respecting international law (S&D), international humanitarian law (The Greens), the need to continue delivering humanitarian aid to Ukraine (EPP, S&D), or allowing the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza (The Left). However, the programs do not address the major challenges that humanitarian actors face, the need to strengthen diplomatic engagement to protect humanitarian space, and to provide enhanced follow-up and financial support to humanitarian and food crises.

To promote independent and effective humanitarian actions commensurate with needs, Action Against Hunger wishes to strengthen Europe’s leadership role in humanitarian diplomacy and recognize conflicts as a root cause of hunger.

The theme of international cooperation and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) varies across programs. Completely absent from the EPP program, which emphasizes EU security and defense policy, it is addressed from the angle of migration in the Renew program, which aims to use international cooperation to reduce pull/push factors through effective partnership programs that prioritize job creation and climate crisis management while raising awareness of the risks of migration routes.

The S&D party commits to promoting the SDGs and emphasizes that the primary objective of development policies should be to improve the lives of the populations concerned.

The Left party more radically questions “neo-colonial hegemony and domination” to promote the principle of “co-development.” It proposes, among other things, the establishment of a European fund for social and ecological co-development including representatives from the countries concerned.

The Greens follow the same logic: they support combining international partnerships and trade agreements within a policy of international cooperation based on the SDGs, encouraging EU policy coherence.

Furthermore, while the climate crisis is addressed in all programs, too few refer to the EU’s international commitments, particularly under the Paris Agreements and COP.

Action Against Hunger calls for the implementation of fairer and more sustainable international cooperation policies to achieve the SDGs to address global challenges such as hunger, access to water and health, poverty, inequality, climate, and peace.

Despite significant needs and the EU’s and its Member States’ international commitments, financing issues for international cooperation remain largely unaddressed in the political programs. The Left and The Greens address the issue of debt and the need to restructure or even cancel the debts of certain countries.

Only The Greens address in more detail the issue of official development assistance and recalls the international commitment to allocate at least 0.7% of gross national income, and the need to coordinate initiatives at the local level and strengthen financial support for local civil society actors.

Action Against Hunger supports an ambitious, transparent, and accountable European financial framework to combat hunger worldwide by prioritizing human development over economic, political, and security interests.

Regarding external action and EU influence at the international level, European diplomacy is notably absent from manifestos. However, the role of the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the need to strengthen its diplomatic corps are mentioned, as well as the necessity of reforming the United Nations and the Security Council—especially by securing a permanent seat for regional organizations like the EU—are also highlighted by some groups.

Some groups, such as S&D and The Greens, support the development of a feminist diplomacy or foreign policy aiming to center gender equality and human security in their external and security policies. The Greens also advocate for the creation of a fund to support local feminist organizations.

However, parties fail to propose and push for a coordinated and strengthened European diplomacy, particularly in preventing and responding to humanitarian crises, and promoting an ambitious transformative agenda for human development.

Action Against Hunger advocates for a strengthened and coordinated European diplomacy among EU institutions and its member states to uphold a consistent and influential position in favor of a multisectoral and transformative approach against food and nutritional insecurity. For a more solidarity-driven, fair, and sustainable society.