Housing and Food: Communities and local-governments driving fair sustainability transitions
European policy dialogue series | November 6th, 2025, EESC Brussels & Livestream
Europe’s long-term wellbeing depends on fair and locally-driven sustainability transitions. Housing and food, our most basic human needs and the two largest household expenses, are powerful entry points for change. Yet, solutions to Europe’s housing and food challenges need to go beyond affordability to ensure sustainability and fairness amid mounting climate and geopolitical pressures.
This policy dialogue series will spotlight action by European civil society and local governments, and advocate to center them in the EU’s Affordable Housing Plan, the implementation of the Vision of Agriculture and Food and other related strategies and post-2027 EU budget planning.
Morning session l Housing | Organised by ICLEI Europe
9.00 am – 13.00 pm
Featuring thought-provoking and practical discussions between civil society, local governments and European institutions over sustainable, decent and affordable good housing practices in light of the EU Affordable Housing Plan.
Afternoon session l Food | Organised by ECOLISE
14.00 – 17.30 pm
Food systems are a major contributor to the ecological crisis, responsible for around one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions due to industrial agriculture, deforestation, and food waste. Yet, food systems can also be part of the solution: local, sustainable practices have the potential to reduce emissions, restore ecosystems, and align with the goals of the European Green Deal. Community-led initiatives (CLIs) across Europe are already implementing such practices, building democratic, regenerative food systems that prioritise biodiversity, climate resilience, local empowerment, and fair access to food.
To fully unlock their potential, CLIs need formal recognition, resources, and a voice in EU food policy. Building on a year-long participatory policy positioning process led by ECOLISE and supported by ECOLISE members and partners, this session will present a set of policy recommendations for EU-level food system transformation. It will offer practical and strategic insights from place-based initiatives that are bridging food, climate, biodiversity, and social justice goals. Rooted in real experiences and territorial diversity, the session aims to inform EU food and agriculture policy, including the CAP, Farm to Fork Strategy, and broader Green Deal implementation, calling to centre communities and local public actors in EU food policymaking as co-creators of Europe’s food future.
Speakers
Leida Rijnhout – ECOLISE Director, Member of the Club of Rome
Stoyan Tchoukanov – Incoming NAT president, EESC
Ruth Marie Kondrup – Coordinator of Nordic Seed Alliance; Permaculture Denmark; ECOLISE Council Member
Christos Karystinos – Permaculture designer & educator, Evolving Cycles NPO Board Member
Giulia Gouet – Policy Officer for Agroecology at Slow Food, Brussels
Cristina Guarda – MEP (Greens/EFA), AGRI Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Sakis Arnaoutoglou – MEP (S&D), ENVI Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety
Ruby Van der Wekken – Producer member of Oma Maa Food cooperative in Finland, team member of RIPESS Europe
Madeleine Coste – Head of food at Eurocities,
Joanna Stawowy – Member of Cabinet, European Commissioner for Agriculture, European Commission
Herwig Ranner – Team Leader, Coordinator Climate Change Issues Unit B2 DG AGRI & EU agriculture negotiator at the UN Climate Negotiations.
Jonathan Peuch – Advocacy Officer, FIAN
Hannes Martin Lorenzen – President, ARC 2020
For more information contact Katerina Boucoyannis, policy officer at katerina.boucoyannis@ecolise.eu.