On July 16, by agreement with the Belarusian side, the chair of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Russian Permanent Mission held a video conference meeting of the Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of the EAEU member countries (Republic of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russian Federation) to international organizations (MO) with headquarters in Rome. The event was also attended by FAO Deputy Director General and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia V.O.Rakhmanin.

Parties of the online conference had a comprehensive exchange of views on the most pressing issues of the activities of the Rome-based UN agencies (RBA: FAO, WFP, IFAD), including those related to preparations for the upcoming 2021 UN Food Systems Summit. The participants dwelled on the initiatives and project activities of RBAs in the field of school nutrition, antimicrobial resistance, support for small and medium-sized agricultural producers, including taking into account the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for agriculture.

Participators expressed satisfaction with the dynamics of cooperation within the EAEU. A general opinion was voiced regarding the existing reserves for the development of practical cooperation between the EAEU and FAO, WFP and IFAD. The sides have reached an agreement to continue the practice of meetings in the format of the EAEU Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives to the RBAs.