Collaboration

The European Landowners’ Organization holds in high regard its enduring partnership with the EU Institutions.
This alliance has given rise to numerous successful undertakings and is presently being advanced through 2 key activities: the Intergroup “Biodiversity, Hunting and Countryside” and the “EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores”.

Eurasian wigeon
Eurasian wigeon

Intergroup “Biodiversity, Hunting, Countryside”

Established in 1985, the European Parliament’s Intergroup “Biodiversity, Hunting, Countryside” stands as one of the earliest and most vibrant parliamentary platforms.
The challenges posed by biodiversity loss, climate change, and rural development hold profound significance for the future of the European Union. In this context, sustainable hunting, wildlife management, and responsible land utilization, led by dedicated landowners and hunters, emerge as crucial elements in environmental preservation.

Serving as a pivotal stakeholder platform within the European Parliament, this Intergroup facilitates open dialogues that bridge decision-makers, the European Commission, and experts. This Intergroup affirms the crucial role of rural actors and the socio-economic significance of countryside activities in shaping policies and initiatives.

© Samuel Jeronimo

Achievements

The Intergroup addresses matters that fall under the European Parliament’s purview, encompassing biodiversity, hunting, wildlife management, forestry, agriculture, and nature conservation. It also addresses cross-cutting issues which have an impact on socio-economic activities in rural areas.

Through regular gatherings both within the precincts of the European Parliament and in virtual spaces, the Intergroup fosters conversations that drive understanding. On occasions, it takes steps to adopt positions, resolutions, recommendations, and various other initiatives, solidifying its commitment to robust engagement and informed policymaking.

The EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores

The project is managed by Instituto di Ecologia Applicata (IAE) and supported by a team including facilitators, social scientists and communicators. 

The team’s goal is not to propose particular solutions but to support the parties affected in discussing the problems and potential solutions together. 

ELO, as co-chair of the European Large Carnivores Platform, links this project and the regional platform to the European Large Carnivores Platform. Platforms are currently being scoped in Castilla y Léon (Spain), Harghita county (Romania), Grosseto, Tuscany (Italy), and Trentino (Italy).

Conflicts on large carnivores vary significantly across the EU, depending for example, on the socio-economic activities in the areas which large carnivores are returning to and the biogeographic and natural conditions.

The project ‘Regional Platforms on coexistence between people and large carnivores’ aims to work together with stakeholders to discuss potential solutions for conflicts around large carnivores in the national, regional or local context.

© Rudi Debruyne