Eat Europe welcomes that EC President Ursula von der Leyen, in her 2025 State of the Union address to the European Parliament, dedicated a significant portion of her speech to the need to ensure the competitiveness of the EU’s economy and industry in an increasingly complex geopolitical context.

“However”, said EAT Europe President Luigi Scordamaglia commenting the speech “intentions must be matched by coherent actions—and on this front, the speech leaves many questions unanswered. Words of support for European excellence must be backed by credible, consistent, and adequately funded policies”.

“President von der Leyen’s continued celebration of the European Green Deal and the legacy of former Commissioner Timmermans” continued Scordamaglia “fails to acknowledge the severe consequences it has had on the competitiveness of key sectors — most notably agriculture. Instead of being sidelined, the agricultural sector should play a central, constructive role in driving a realistic and inclusive green transition”.

We appreciate President von der Leyen’s acknowledgment of Europe producing “the best food in the world.” But we cannot maintain our high quality and environmental standards if the EU continues to open its markets without adequate safeguards and without ensuring reciprocity from third-country imports. Unfair competition not only threaten our producers, but undermine the very values the EU claims to promote.

We also take note of the Commission’s intention to strengthen the EU’s promotion policy and the recognition of the agri-food sector’s strategic role. However, several key issues remain unresolved:

· What is the real budgetary commitment? The budget allocated for 2024 (€185.9 million) is below expectations and falls short of the €200 million per year agreed under the 2021–2027 Multiannual Financial Framework. This stagnation is particularly worrying given rising costs and growing ambitions.

· Where will the funding come from, and how will it be distributed? Further erosion of CAP funding or the crisis reserve must be firmly excluded. Clear, transparent allocation criteria are essential.

· How will the Commission ensure policy coherence between promotion, trade, public health, and sustainability? Agreements like Mercosur and the upcoming EU–India deal risk exposing the EU agri-food sector to unfair competition—jeopardising not only the economic viability of producers but also undermining internal policies promoting the European model of production.

“As for the EU–US agreement”, continued Scordamaglia, “we strongly disagree with the President’s positive assessment. The deal signed in August 2025 is a “win–lose” arrangement that overwhelmingly benefits the United States, while placing European farmers and food producers at a disadvantage. It creates an uneven playing field, threatens revenue and competitiveness, and may violate WTO rules, opening the door to potential legal disputes”.

European producers of premium wines, cheese, pasta, biscuits, beer, and spirits face sharp losses. Moreover, the EU has granted broad concessions, including full tariff liberalisation on key product categories (fruit, vegetables, dried fruits, seeds, juices, jams).
These terms are expected to disproportionately impact the fruit and vegetable, seed, and nut sectors, with losses potentially reaching billions of euros.
To make matters worse, the agreement also includes vague but politically significant commitments on future EU investments in US-based infrastructure and expanded purchases of American liquefied natural gas (LNG). These promises further tilt the balance of the deal in favor of the US, strengthening its energy and export position, while offering little or no reciprocal benefit for European agri-food producers.

Finally, we regret the notable absence of any reference to food as a pillar of human health in the SOTEU. Food is not just an economic commodity—it is a public good, deeply connected to health, sustainability, and culture. The European model of food production—rooted in quality, tradition, and environmental care—deserves to be defended and promoted accordingly.
In this sense, key EU health initiatives risk misrepresenting the role of high-quality, nutritious foods — including animal proteins — while failing to address the real drivers of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as the excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods, even penalising the moderate consumption of traditional products like our high-quality wines. President von der Leyen must ensure consistency between her commitment to promoting European food and the Commission’s actions, which increasingly cast doubt on essential components of a balanced diet — such as red meat — while taking no concrete steps against the spread of ultra-processed (formulated) products and, in some cases, even supporting synthetic food alternatives.

Eat Europe reaffirms that European food is not only a global benchmark of excellence but a fundamental component of the EU’s identity and resilience. It is therefore essential that promotion, trade, and health policies be aligned within a long-term, coherent vision—one that is truly worthy of the words spoken today.

For questions and reactions please do not hesitate to contact us at info@eat-europe.eu.