José Antonio Hidalgo, coordinator of the Ecuadorian Cluster, was in Brussels from Monday, January 27 to Tuesday, February 4.

The Banana and Plantain Cluster of Ecuador , represented by its coordinator, José Antonio Hidalgo, held a series of strategic meetings in Brussels with authorities of the European Union and key players in the sector.

These meetings, held between the end of January and February 4, coincided with the visit of the Minister of Production, Trade, Investments and Fisheries, Luis Alberto Jaramillo Granja, and the Vice Minister of Foreign Trade, Carlos Zaldumbide, strengthening the work agenda of the Ecuadorian banana sector in Europe.

During the meetings, the Cluster presented the main challenges facing the industry, with special emphasis on sustainability, safety and competitiveness in the European market.

DIALOGUE WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION: FAIRER REGULATION AND COST REDUCTION FOR PRODUCERS

In meetings with MEPs Gabriel Mato, Jessika Van Leeuwen, Rosa Estaràs and the team of MEP César Luena, the Cluster highlighted the need for more equitable regulation that favours Latin American producers. Among the topics discussed were:

- Abusive practices in the retail sector and their impact on producers.

- EU aesthetic requirements for bananas and their contribution to food waste.

- Homologation of certifications to reduce costs and avoid unnecessary duplications.

The MEPs showed their willingness to collaborate and even raised the possibility of visiting Ecuador to learn about the reality of the sector first-hand.

Furthermore, with the support of Minister Jaramillo and Deputy Minister Zaldumbide, the Cluster presented these challenges in meetings with MEPs Juan Ignacio Zoido and Bernd Lange, as well as with the Directorate General for Trade (DG TRADE) of the European Commission.

"The Ecuadorian productive sector, a country with a clear export vocation, faces numerous challenges in its productive sector as well as opportunities to advance a common and co-responsible agenda in sustainable and safe exports with the European Union," said Minister Jaramillo.

IMPACT OF EUROPEAN REGULATION AND COOPERATION IN SECURITY

At its meeting with the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI), the Cluster discussed regulations such as the Due Diligence Directive and the Deforestation Act (EUDR), emphasizing the need for a unified methodology that reduces the bureaucratic burden for producers. DG AGRI recognized the importance of Ecuadorian bananas in the European market and the need to guarantee fair conditions for their production.

In terms of security in the value chain, the Cluster held meetings with the Directorate-General for Home Affairs (DG HOME), the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Port of Antwerp and the National Drugs Commissioner of Belgium.

Ecuador's efforts in container scanning, farm security and collaboration with local authorities were discussed .

In addition, a call was made for European co-responsibility, emphasizing that the increase in drug consumption in Europe is one of the main factors driving drug trafficking.

EVENT IN ROTTERDAM: SUSTAINABILITY AND SECURITY IN BANANA LOGISTICS

The Cluster also organized an event together with the Port of Rotterdam, Trust Control, the Embassy of Ecuador in the Netherlands and PRO-ECUADOR, entitled: “Sustainability Practices, Safety, and Efficiency in International Logistics for Bananas and Plantains”.

The event brought together 25 representatives from the Dutch logistics and banana sectors, highlighting the progress of the Ecuadorian sector in sustainability and security in the supply chain. It was reaffirmed that drug trafficking is a global problem that requires coordinated actions between Europe and Latin America.

STRATEGIC ALLIANCES AND SECTOR VISIBILITY IN THE EU

To strengthen the sector's presence on the European agenda, the Cluster held a meeting with POLITICO Europe, a key medium in the dissemination of community policies, and with FRESHFEL Europe, a forum for the fresh fruit and vegetable chain.

The latter highlighted the need for ongoing dialogue between European and Latin American producers to jointly address the challenges facing the agricultural sector.

The meetings in Brussels have strengthened the Cluster's voice on the European institutional agenda, generating new opportunities for cooperation.

In the coming months, the Cluster will continue to promote concrete actions to improve the competitiveness, sustainability and security of the Ecuadorian banana sector in the international market.