FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia

FAO Regional Priority Programme

Agrifood systems in Europe and Central Asia are still deeply affected by the process of political and economic transition. The transformation of agrifood production and markets has coincided with the process of globalization and deepening trade integration both within the region and worldwide. With greater participation in global agrifood trade, the region plays an increasingly important role as a supplier of agricultural commodities and food products to international markets.
This Regional Priority Programme, implemented since 2016, consists of three main interrelated components.
The primary goal of the Regional Priority Programme on "Transforming food systems and facilitating market access and integration" is to support member countries in enhancing the agrifood trade policy environment for small- and medium-sized agricultural enterprises in pursuit of more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems. A better trade policy environment for modern agrifood markets requires the development of capacity for trade agreements and domestic, regional and international sanitary and phytosanitary rules. Knowledge of trading partners’ requirements is essential. 

While international trade policy is usually implemented at the border, adherence to food safety, quality standards, and controls for animal and plant diseases requires the support of national systems for disease prevention and control to facilitate the safe transfer and movement of food and agricultural commodities across borders. This means that a supportive policy environment for agrifood trade encompasses not only border policies, but also policies and institutions at national and enterprise levels. Effective markets and efficient, sustainable value chains will help all actors in the production chain play their part in a cohesive food system. 
Featured news
FAO offers free multilingual course to improve biosecurity on ruminant farms
03/02/2026

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched a new free virtual course to help ruminant farmers improve biosecurity...

Joint UN programme in Armenia to unlock sustainable finance for climate-smart and nutrition-sensitive food systems
02/02/2026

Under the leadership of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Armenia, Françoise Jacob, and with support from the UN Joint SDG Fund, the Government...

FAO promotes sustainable agriculture in Belarus through geographical indications
30/01/2026

Agriculture is a foundational pillar of the economy of Belarus, shaping food security, nutrition and rural well-being. Belarusian agrifood system products...

FAO Farmer Field Schools train Albanian olive growers
26/01/2026

Olive growers in the Municipality of Belsh, Albania, are strengthening their skills and practices through the expansion of the Food and Agriculture...

In Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, smallholders are farming more sustainably
12/01/2026

A multi-country initiative supporting smallholder farmers in adopting sustainable, productive and climate resilient practices has successfully concluded....

Ukraine’s agriculture: FAO sets out a three-year emergency and early recovery plan
06/01/2026

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has published its 

Strengthening Europe’s capacity to respond to peste des petits ruminants
22/12/2025

Since its emergence in Europe in 2018, peste des petits ruminants (PPR) has continued to spread. Over the past two years, it has reached Albania, Bulgaria,...

Training raises hunter awareness of a deadly swine disease affecting wild boar in the Western Balkans
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A series of trainings recently concluded in Serbia and in Montenegro, helping hunters improve their knowledge of African swine fever (ASF) in wild boar...

The Republic of Moldova unveils a new long-term table grape strategy
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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have announced...

FAO and Uzbekistan partner for more resilience, growth and equity in rural areas by 2030
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Experts meet in Dushanbe to advance sustainable livestock development in the region
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Serbia advances cross-sectoral collaboration through a One Health workshop
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Forum: Reducing waste will benefit agrifood systems, water security and climate
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Every day, small, often-invisible losses accumulate. A crate of tomatoes spoils before delivery....

The Mediterranean and the Black Sea: Fisheries sustainability concerns remain, but overfishing drops to its lowest level in a decade, while aquaculture feeds more people
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Although fisheries sustainability in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea remains a source of concern, the percentage of overfished stocks has dropped...

FAO convenes the Fifth Regional Consultation on Geographical Indications with a focus on sustainability
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FAO reinforces regional efforts to curb antimicrobial resistance at Moscow food safety conference
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Rural women in Kosovo strengthen livelihoods through livestock care trainings
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Events

17/2

2026

Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), 17/02/2026

To support the improvement of population nutrition and the transformation of food systems in the Central Asian region, FAO is assisting three countries, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, in developing Food System-Based Dietary Guidelines (FSBDGs). 

11/2

2026

Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), 11/02/2026

Training Workshop on application of risk assessment criteria in the field of phytosanitary supervision. As part of its technical assistance to the Kyrgyz Republic, FAO organizes a Training Workshop on application of risk assessment criteria in the field of phytosanitary supervision. It aims at strengthening the capacity of veterinary oversight specialists in applying risk-based approaches to...

16/1

2026

Berlin (Germany), 16/01/2026

On 16 January between 1.30–3.00 p.m., in the framework of the 2026 Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA), FAO and the German–Ukrainian Agricultural Policy Dialogue are organizing a side event on Technologies and innovation as a driver of resilience in European Union (EU) neighbourhood crisis-affected regions.

Contact

Mary Kenny
Food safety and consumer protection officer
20 Kalman Imre utca
H-1054 Budapest
Hungary
Tel: +36 1 8141-251

See also
Sustainable Development Goals