Luis Planas emphasises the role of multilateral organisations in tackling global challenges

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, during his speech at the assembly of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH)

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, has reaffirmed Spain's commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation as essential tools for tackling major global challenges. In particular, Planas defended the strengthening of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) as a key player in global health governance.

In his speech today at the ministerial meeting organised by this international organisation in Paris, Planas pointed out that "Spain, as a founding country, advocates an increasingly strong, inclusive and strategically prepared WOAH". The minister took part in the opening ceremony of the 92nd General Session of the World Assembly of Delegates of this organisation and took part in a high-level round table on animal vaccination, international trade and its impact on the livestock sector and the global economy.

The minister stressed the need to move towards an international agri-food trade based on transparent, ethical and scientifically based sanitary rules, which avoid unnecessary barriers, but at the same time guarantee public health, environmental protection and animal welfare.

"The economic aspect of trade is important, but so is the ethical aspect," said the minister, who acknowledged the role of the WOAH in drawing up international health standards and in the integration, albeit implicitly, of ethical principles in its recommendations. He therefore called on member countries to implement these rules with clarity, transparency and ethical commitment.

Planas also stressed the essential role of animal health in the context of global health. "The WOAH's role must remain vital in addressing these challenges, ensuring animal health and, with it, global health".

Meeting with French and Portuguese ministers

In addition, Luis Planas held a meeting with his counterparts from France, Annie Genevard, and Portugal, José Manuel Fernandes, in which they discussed key issues such as the negotiations on the next multiannual financial framework, the management of new genomic techniques, animal welfare in transport, the European Union's wine package and the proposal for simplification of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) presented by the European Commission. In this context, all three countries argued for the need to maintain a strong, well-funded and clearly differentiated CAP.

The minister stressed that food security must also be seen as a security policy, and warned that a more secure Europe is not only built by investing in defence, but also by guaranteeing a stable and sustainable food supply for all citizens.

Non official translation