The European Livestock and Meat Trade Union (UECBV) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) from October 14 to 16, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium. The meeting brought together UECBV members from across Europe to discuss how the meat, livestock, and trade sectors can contribute to food security, strengthen resilience, and maintain competitiveness in a changing global context.
Over two days, the event featured various sessions focused on climate, trade, animal health, and welfare. Representatives from the European Commission’s Directorates-General for AGRI, CLIMA, SANTE, and TRADE presented the current situation and participated in the discussions alongside AGM delegates.
UECBV President Roland Ackermann opened the public session by highlighting the importance of collaboration to strengthen the European agri-food value chain. The meeting concluded with a keynote address by Pierre Bascou, Deputy Director-General of DG AGRI of the European Commission, entitled “Making European Livestock Great: Boosting Food Security, Resilience, and Competitiveness.”
In his remarks, Bascou underscored the essential role of the European livestock sector in ensuring a stable food supply and supporting rural communities, especially in the face of geopolitical uncertainties, climate pressures, and evolving markets.
He also emphasized the need for collaboration between policymakers, livestock producers, and industry to ensure that the agricultural sector is both environmentally and economically sustainable. Europe, he added, must maintain its high production standards while ensuring fair competition and supporting producers during the green transition.
In a lively debate, UECBV members and partners addressed topics such as market stability, regulatory coherence, international competitiveness, and communication with society. The session demonstrated a shared will to address these challenges in an open and constructive manner.
The new Secretary General of the UECBV, Dr. Zeev Noga, closed the meeting by highlighting the organization’s role as a platform for dialogue between the sector and the European institutions. He noted that strengthening resilience requires both strategic vision and ongoing cooperation throughout the entire supply chain.
The UECBV expressed its gratitude to Alimentaria Intercarn, a long-standing partner of the organization, for its support of the event.
