Exchange and collaboration in the heart of the European Union

19 October 2022 Event report

“PEFC in Brussels” was the informal title of our successful week at the end of September, that gathered 55 PEFC members from around the world in the Belgian and EU capital.

The week saw inspiring discussions, productive meetings and interesting exchanges among PEFC members and with EU actors.

The week was also an opportunity for the PEFC International Board to exchange with the representatives of the European Commission and the European Parliament on ongoing topics related to sustainable forests.

We would like to thank the Cabinet of the EU Commissioner for Budget and Administration, Johannes Hahn, for a fruitful discussion and their interest in hearing the views of a global organisation like ours.

We were pleased to welcome MEP Simone Schmiedtbauer at our “Meet PEFC” reception, and spent an evening in the friendly company of our Brussels-based friends and colleagues, sharing conversations and ideas.

Productive discussions and big steps forward

The week also saw a meeting of the PEFC Chain of Custody Working Group, which reached critical decisions in the development of the PEFC Chain of Custody standard.

PEFC Marketing and Communications experts discussed pathways to continue meeting European expectations on sustainable forests and how to strengthen our regional approach.

Our EU Working Group met for the first time in a new PEFC platform that will closely look at EU policy developments that impact our system and members. Thank you to the Czech Council presidency for joining us and presenting the priorities of the European Union on forests.

The message of the week was clear: PEFC is here to support the promotion of sustainable forest management in the EU and globally, and contribute towards outcomes that are socially just, ecologically sound, and economically viable.