Ministers of the Informal Group on Forests on the Challenges of European Forests

Maribor – With the signing of the guidelines for new members, a meeting of ministers responsible for forestry from the countries of the expanded Forest + Group began in Maribor on Thursday, which now includes Italy and Latvia in addition to Austria, Finland, Sweden, France, and Slovenia. The purpose of the group is to build partnerships and trust among member states, promote open dialogue, coordinate positions on key issues of European forestry policy, and ensure that we, as member states, are better heard and more effective in negotiations and shaping European legislation, said the Slovenian Minister of Agriculture Mateja Čalušić.

As she added, the aim of the two-day meeting is to exchange views and professional experiences on the current challenges facing the forestry sector at the EU level, as well as to discuss the implementation of European regulations that directly affect forests and forestry.

“A special added value is also the presence of directors of forestry institutes, who facilitate the connection between policy and practice. Therefore, the meeting represents an opportunity to strengthen cooperation among countries and to reinforce the common European commitment to the sustainable use of forests. Our common goal is to preserve healthy, resilient, and productive European forests for future generations,” Čalušić further stated.

Slovenia took over the presidency of the informally established group this year for the first time. Slovenia established the Forest Group three years ago together with Austria, Sweden, and Finland, and now Italy and Latvia have also joined. Like some other members of the group, Slovenia is among the most forested EU member states, as forests cover almost 60 percent of its area. (August 28)