GCCA Coordinates European Parliament Roundtable

“Delivering Food Security for Europe” Hosted Today in Brussels

June 25, 2025 – Cold chain leaders from across Europe are gathering in Brussels today for ‘Delivering Food Security for Europe.’ This roundtable, coordinated by the Global Cold Chain Alliance, addresses key issues emerging from the recently published Vision for the Future of Agriculture and Food. It is part of an ongoing advocacy campaign to ensure European leaders recognise the vital role of logistics in maintaining resilience in the food supply chain and prioritise regulatory and financial policies that support further growth and investment in the European cold chain.

Members of the European Parliament, officials and others will hear directly from operators about how cold chain businesses have coped with multiple regional and global crises, like the war in Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis. The event comes just weeks before the EU is set to publish its first “EU Food Stockpiling Strategy” and will inform work improving EU’s preparedness for ongoing and future global challenges.

The event is hosted by MEP Adrian-George Axinia (Romania), a member of the influential Transport and Tourism Committee. Participants will also hear from additional experts, including MEP Daniel Buda (Romania), Vice Chair of the AGRI Committee, and representatives of the cold chain from across Europe.

During the discussion, contributors will share insights on:

• Why the cold chain should be designated as critical infrastructure and why cold chain professionals must be recognised as key workers, especially in crisis planning
• Methods of removing barriers to investment to increase supply chain capacity, upgrade existing infrastructure and make the European food supply chain more resilient
• The vital role of secure and free-flowing trade within the EU and with the world outside Europe
• Incentives necessary to accelerate innovation, from energy generation and efficiency to automation and leading-edge equipment

Following the roundtable, GCCA will partner to publish a summary of the discussion and recommendations for action across the European Commission.

Prior to the roundtable, GCCA President and CEO Sara Stickler said: “This conversation is an important milestone in our ongoing effort to ensure a robust and influential voice for the cold chain at the heart of European decision-making. Our industry has proved through action that it is resilient and reliable, but that does not mean that we are complacent. Leaders across the world must recognise the vital role of cold chain operations and work with us to ensure that the regulatory and policy framework creates confidence and incentivises investment, so that the cold chain can continue to deliver food security for Europe.”