The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is currently drafting an own-initiative opinion on the "The future of the rice sector in Europe: a common strategy". The aim of the opinion is  to analyse in detail the main challenges and growing problems in the rice sector and outline the most appropriate common strategy or European measures needed to ensure the competitiveness, climate resilience and territorial cohesion of the European rice sector. 

Rapporteur: Alberto CIRIO (IT/EPP)
When: Tuesday, 7 July 2026 | 11.00–12.30 CET
Where: Rue Belliard 99-101, 1040 Brussels, meeting room JDE 53

The rapporteur of the opinion, Mr Alberto CIRIO (IT/EPP), President of the Piedmont Region, warmly invites you to participate in a consultation meeting with relevant stakeholder organisations to exchange views and gather contributions on the key issues addressed in this opinion. The dialogue with the stakeholders will contribute to answer to the following questions, among other elements that will be raised by the interventions:
•    What should be the EU’s strategic vision for the rice sector by 2030 in terms of sustainability, resilience and food security? 
•    Is there a possibility to create synergies with other products of regional importance that could benefit from a common European support strategy? If yes, which products should be considered? 
•    What added value can local and regional authorities bring in designing and implementing concrete measures for the rice sector and what role should local and regional authorities play in defining a common European strategy for a more resilient and competitive European rice sector?
•    How can the EU ensure the long-term economic competitiveness of the rice sector in the main producing regions, considering rising production costs and strong competition from imports?
•    How can the EU strengthen the position of rice producers in the supply chain, enabling them to obtain more added value?
•    How can the objective of reducing methane emissions and meeting environmental requirements for rice cultivation be achieved without compromising farmers’ incomes and regional production systems?
•    What incentives or support schemes are needed to encourage the uptake of low-emission practices, such as alternative water management?
•    Water scarcity and competition for water use are structural factors for many rice basins in Europe. How should EU agricultural and water policies adapt to the increase in droughts and water scarcity in the main rice basins? 
•    Is there a risk that the reform of the CAP and the next Multiannual Financial Framework, which provides for a single fund and the centralisation of aid, could jeopardise support for a strategic sector for territories such as rice?
•    Are the current safeguard mechanisms in trade agreements sufficient to protect sensitive agricultural sectors such as rice? What measures are needed to further strengthen the principle of reciprocity in international trade?
Please find the link to the rapporteur's working document.

This hybrid meeting will be held in English with interpretation to/from Italian. Kindly note that the organisers cannot provide refund for participants.

If your organisation has any position papers relevant to the subject, we kindly invite you to share them in advance by e-mail to the CoR NAT Secretariat nat@cor.europa.eu
For more information, please contact: nat@cor.europa.eu
Administrator in charge of the file: Pierpaolo Piras