O QUE SOMOS / O QUE QUEREMOS

WHO ARE WE ?

Euro-Toques, The European community of chefs over 3,500 European cooks and chefs in the European Union and the world.

Created in 1986 around several « great names », Pierre Romeyer and Paul Bocuse, visionaries who were already aware of the risks of food abuses. It is now an international group, chaired by the Spanish chef, Pedro Subijana, in Brussels, coordinating a network of 18 national groups. Euro-Toques is a lobby for food issues regulated by national and European institutions. Euro-Toques’ members adhere to a code of honour which commits them to promoting the quality and traditions of each country.

Articles of association published in the Moniteur belge (Belgian statute book) govern its decision-making bodies and structures of work

A Chairman is elected for three years.
A General Meeting every year.
Board meetings held 3 times a year.
Working Committees draw up dossiers and strategies according to European orientations.

- Partners
- Fishing
- Food legislation
- Common agricultural policy
- Relations with the European Parliament


WHAT DO WE WANT?

- To protect the Quality and Flavour of foods.
- To promote the Know-how of food Craftsmen.
- To facilitate exchanges between chefs throughout Europe.
- To perpetuate the Cultures and traditions of our gastronomies.
- To raise consumer awareness through education.
- To promote health through the assurance of healthy food regarding chemical additives in food products and to instead promote natural combinations
- Not to compromise by means of new methods which are liable to generate a health risk or to alter the taste of foods.
- To make a commitment in favour of correct labelling to give consumers relevant information which they need to make their choices.
- To protect European Culinary Heritage in its diversity, origins and typicality.

A PERMANENT OFFICE IN BRUSSELS at the service of our common cause, enables us to:

- have a greater presence within the European institutions.
- Act directly with decision-makers and politicians at the European level.
- Take part directly in the network of privileged contacts with the Commission, the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament.
- Coordinate the actions of our national offices.

We take part directly in the work of:

The European Parliament Intergroup on Traditions-Quality.
AThe Food Committee of the « Health and Consumers» Directorate General in the European Commission. http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/health/index_en.htm


Our successes
Consideration of specific issues concerning traditional methods and quality.

- Game laws,
- the defence of selling cheeses made with raw milk,
- the introduction in 1992 of an AOP/IGP list of traditional and specific products,
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/foodqual/quali1_en.htm
- the defence of real chocolate made with cocoa butter and its labelling,
- the charter of confidence with producers and suppliers.

What will be the future issues?
« Nature and industry »

- GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms),
- the defence of sustainable fishing of fresh produce,
- the promotion of organic and traditional production methods of specific regional origin as an access to quality products,
- labelling and restaurant,
- traditionally made foie gras threatened by Europe,
- taking part in Communication, information and safeguarding of European culinary heritage.