European Organic Congress 2020 goes digital

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, IFOAM EU’s Digital European Organic Congress will provide a platform for policymakers and expert speakers on the latest policy developments, provide a platform for exchange, and discuss visions for a post-pandemic Europe. Given the new format, the congress will be extended by one day, and will include five different online sessions from 1 to 3 July. Topics include the EU Organic Regulation, an Organic Action Plan, the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, the Farm to Fork Strategy, and possible scenarios for a European food and farming system.

AFD’s Social & Inclusive Business Camp: SOS Covid course

The French Development Agency (AFD)’s Social & Inclusive Business Camp (SIBC) is accelerating its deployment, particularly in Africa. In the face of an unprecedented economic and health crisis, the SIBC is offering an “SOS Covid” course, available in English and French. The 2020 call for applications is now open.
Given the particular context of crisis this year, the SIBC is committed to supporting young entrepreneurs in this time of crisis by providing them with the necessary management and reflection tools. Each entrepreneur who validates his/her application will have free access (market value €7,500) to a crisis business management kit developed with AMI, a partner of the SIBC. They will be able to exchange during a collaborative webinar, access management tools on the AMI platform for 2 months and thus join a community of qualified peers to accompany them during this uncertain period.

EU Tourism and Transport Package

The European Commission has published a Tourism and Transport Package providing guidelines and a recommendation to coordinate EU Member States’ lifting of travel restrictions, allow businesses to reopen, and ensure a safe recommencement of tourist activities in the summer. The package includes:

• A communication on tourism and transport in 2020 and beyond;
• A common approach to lifting restrictions of free movement at EU internal borders in a gradual and coordinated way, mirroring the progressive lifting of domestic restrictions;
• A common framework to support the gradual re-establishment of transport whilst ensuring the safety of passengers and personnel – measures such as physical distancing at security checks and luggage drop-off and collection, limits on the number of passengers on board when possible, and additional safeguards and measures like the wearing of face masks;
• Common criteria and principles for gradually and safely restoring tourism activities, in particular for health protocols for hospitality (hotels, etc.).