Reconstitution objective
On 10 September, 50 MEPs from all major political groups pledged to support the reconstitution of theIntergroup “Biodiversity, hunting & Country Side (Biodiversity, Hunting and Rurality). Since its first establishment in 1985, this Intergroup has been a point of reference for stakeholders within the European Parliament, enabling open and cross-cutting discussions between decision-makers, civil society and experts. The event “Dialogue on the future of the European countryside, sustainable land use, hunting and nature conservation”, kindly hosted by MEP Juan Ignacio Zoido – member of the Intergroup Council in the previous legislature – and jointly organised by the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE) and the European Landowners’ Organisation (ELO), reaffirmed the fundamental role of rural actors and the socio-economic importance of countryside activities.
Historical contributions
MEP Zoido welcomed all MEPs and representatives of stakeholder organisations. He stressed the importance of continuing the Intergroup, which has historically provided important input to the political agenda during previous legislatures. Torbjörn Larsson, President of FACE, said: “Over the past five years, the Intergroup has received the support of over 120 MEPs, which is proof of its importance. For Europe’s 7 million hunters, it has been essential in addressing key rural and environmental issues. Now is the time to push for its reconstitution!”
Rural sector concerns
Jurgen Tack, ELO Secretary General, said: “The Intergroup has always been up to the task of ensuring that the concerns of the rural sector are heard and taken into account in policy decisions. By keeping the European Parliament as a strong advocate for all rural actors, we can ensure that the future of agriculture remains realistic and effective.” This event marked the official start of our advocacy campaign to ensure that the voice of European countryside remains strong and influential in future policy decisions. FACE and ELO, in collaboration with leading MEPs from various political groups, are working tirelessly to secure broad support for the reconstitution of the Intergroup during the 2024-2029 parliamentary term. (Source FACE)