Relations with Developing Countries
Under the "Everything but Arms" arrangement, the EU grants duty- and quota-free market access to all exports from Least Developed Countries (LDCs), except of armaments. The same approach is being extended to African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries in the context of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) as from 2008, subject to transitional periods for rice and sugar (which for rice is now over). The pro-development EPAs will stimulate trade and growth - including in the food and agricultural sector - which will also contribute to food security in developing countries.
All in all, the EU is taking clear and bold steps to help developing countries meet their food security objectives. The adopted € 1 billion Food Facility 
, the agreed CAP Health Check package and EPAs are among such steps. Food insecurity remains a serious concern in many parts of the world. The EU has already shown that it is not turning a deaf ear to such concerns.
Europe's farmers still need to meet the challenge of producing quality and safe food at affordable prices. The CAP has achieved a great deal in the past decades; it has evolved and reformed itself to reflect new realities, a process which was re-discussed within the context of the CAP Health Check.
At an EU level, the CAP will aim to continue providing European farmers with the right market signals to produce using sustainable production practices whilst responding to the new challenges presented by climate change and water scarcity that rural areas are already confronting. In developing countries the issue of climate change is also impacting heavily on the productive capacity of farming communities.
There is a clear understanding that food and agriculture should be placed higher on the international political agenda as expressed by the international Community in several fora.
On 10 July 2009 in L'Aquila, Italy, leaders of the G8 nations committed to mobilize US$ 22 billion over three years through the L’Aquila Food Security Initiative in support of rural development in poor countries (L'Aquila Joint Statement 
). Leaders further promoted the advancement of the Global Partnership on Agriculture and Food Security, to keep agriculture at the core of the international agenda, re-launch investments and boost aid efficiency and in-country coordination, with the involvement of all relevant stakeholders (in 2010 the G8 presidency passed to Canada).
Other major events on food and agriculture were the African Union Summit in July, the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh in September, the agreement to reform the FAO Committee on World Food Security (CFS) in October, and the World Food Summit in Rome on 16-18 November 2009.
The European Union is a key actor in actively contributing to concerted efforts so that the African continent in particular can strive towards meeting its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) targets by 2015, notably MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. The EU will continue to adjust the CAP, wherever necessary, to tomorrow's realities, including those reflecting the food security concerns of the developing countries.