16th meeting of the Stakeholder Bureau

Background

The 16th meeting of the Stakeholder Bureau was held on April 30, 2025. Bernhard Url, Acting Executive Director of EFSA, opened the meeting by welcoming three new members: Ms. Emma Calvert (BEUC) representing Consumers, Mr. Stephen Lennon (COPA-COGECA) as an alternate for Farmers and Primary Producers, and Ms. Alice O’Donovan (CELCAA) representing Distributors and HORECA. He thanked and acknowledged the contributions of outgoing members. Mr. Url underscored the crucial value and importance of engagement with stakeholders for EFSA’s work and strategy, reminding the Bureau of its role as EFSA’s advisory body on stakeholder engagement and its contribution to the Stakeholder Forum's preparation. He outlined the agenda, which was divided into two main parts: engagement and communication activities, and stakeholder-raised items focusing on preparedness for future challenges. Bernhard Url also announced that this would be his last Stakeholder Bureau meeting, as he would leave EFSA at the end of August 2025.
Aivars Bērziņš, Chair of the EFSA Management Board, briefly introduced himself to the newcomers and welcomed participants. He provided an update on the appointment of Martin Dermine (PAN-Europe) as the new NGO member to the Management Board. Mr. Bērziņš also offered a brief overview of the main outcomes from the recent 100th Management Board meeting held on March 27, 2025.