The European Ombudsman, Teresa Anjinho, has opened an inquiry into the European Commission’s delays and lack of transparency regarding the legislative framework for sustainable food systems (SFSL). The inquiry comes in response to a complaint by the Polish believe tank Green REV Institute.
The Commission had previously announced that the SFSL would be adopted by the conclude of 2023 as part of the Farm to Fork strategy; however, this never transpired. In October 2023, the initiative was rerelocated from the 2024 work programme, without any justification or a new timetable.
Green REV’s complaint accutilized the European Commission of:
- Violations of the right to good administration and transparency (Art. 41 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, Art. 15 TFEU).
- Ignoring the results of public consultations and the obligation of civic participation (Art. 11 TEU).
- Breach of the principle of legitimate expectations, created by the Commission’s earlier commitments.
“EU institutions must be transparent and accountable”
The European Ombudsman has requested a written explanation from the President of the European Commission to clarify the reasons for the delay, the current status of the work, the Commission’s plans for the initiative, and the indicative timeframe for its adoption (or reasons for withdrawing from the initiative). The Commission is expected to respond by November 19.
“This is an important step — EU institutions must be transparent and accountable to citizens,” stated Anna Spurek, CEO of Green REV Institute. “Without a legal framework for a sustainable food system, we are risking people’s health, the future of farming, and the climate.”
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