On Thursday, Commissioner Andriukaitis will start his visit in Germany by holding a citizen dialogue in Potsdam on the theme of health, entitled: "Where we stand today – and how to improve Europe's health status". Meanwhile, Commissioner Hogan will address the Committee on Food and Agriculture at the German Bundestag. Later on that day, at 16:00 CET, both Commissioners will attend the Green Week's premises before the event's official opening.
On Friday and Saturday, both Commissioners Andriukaitis and Hogan join the 11th Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) organised in the context of the Green Week. On Friday, Commissioner Hogan will participate in the EU High-Level Panel “Innovation and Digitalisation of Agriculture”. He will also speak on a panel entitled “EU Africa Alliance in Agriculture - the way forward”, alongside African Union Agriculture Commissioner Josepha Sacko and the Taskforce Rural Africa Chairman Tom Arnold.
On Saturday, Commissioner Andriukaitis will also participate in a conference on "Western Balkans: Potentials of Agriculture Trade". Also, whilst in Berlin, Commissioner Hogan will meet Ms Angela Merkel, Federal Chancellor of Germany, the Australian agriculture Minister David Littleproud and Japanese Agriculture Minister Takamori Yoshikawa. Ahead of his visit, Commissioner Andriukaitis said: “I look forward to visiting this important event and to discussing with ministers from the EU and third-countries topics which are high on the Commission's agenda, notably African swine fever".
Commissioner Hogan added: “Berlin Green Week and the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture are major events in the global agricultural policy calendar. This week's events provide a big opportunity to increase our cooperation at a global level, for example with the Taskforce Rural Africa and by sharing ideas on how to mainstream digitalisation in the agriculture sector.” The European Commission is present throughout the duration of the International Green Week 2019 with a stand on the theme of sustainable food for a healthy lifestyle. Visitors will receive information about the Common Agricultural Policy, digital innovations in agriculture and rural areas, the EU's work on food safety and nutrition labelling and research, and measures to reduce food waste, as well as AMR.