The Farmers and Forest owners’ organisations of Austria, Finland and Sweden organized 25.3.2025 a seminar called ‘30 Years in the EU: Austria, Finland and Sweden – Front Runners for Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry’, where messages on sustainable agriculture and forestry were delivered to Brussels. The seminar discussions highlighted our countries’ contribution to the Union for 30 years, notably by driving the development of more sustainable production, rural development, forestry and animal welfare. But it also looked at what is needed for us to continue to deliver on this for the coming 30 years.
 

The first keynote speaker, Ms. Henna Virkkunen, EVP for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, European Commission highlighted, that agriculture and forestry are all connected to the important EU objectives of the security, competitivity and climate neutrality.

The second keynote was given by Ms. Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, European Commission. She reminded us that links between agriculture and forestry and the environment are obvious and that a strong European bioeconomy is necessary to reach these goals.

Mr. Wolfgang Burtscher, Director-General, DG AGRI, European Commission, stressed the heightened importance of food security. He also underlined the need for territorial diversity in agricultural policy.

Three presidents presented their experiences from early EU membership and the expectations from farmers and forest owners. Regional President Nikolaus Berlakovich, LKÖ, Austria, stressed that agriculture is an integral part of national security. President Palle Borgström, LRF, Sweden, highlighted the role of consumers in producing sustainably. President Juha Marttila, MTK, Finland, demanded the commission to implement the EU-legislation better to support the sustainability work made by the farmers.

Video greetings from the Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry of Austria, Finland and Sweden, Mr. Norbert Totschnig, Ms. Sari Essayah and Mr. Peter Kullgren higlighted the excellent co-operation with the farmers and forest owners and the need for continued co-operation between our countries to ensure we remain competetive front runners also for the future.

The MEPs Alexander Bernhuber, Elsi Katainen and Emma Wiesner supported the approach of the front runner farmers and forest owners of Austria, Finland and Sweden but stressed the importance of a profitable sector in our respective countries to achieve this.  

The young farmers’ panel, Ms. Cecilia Nyholm from Finland, Ms. Katharina Schobersberger from Austria and Ms. Katarina Wolf from Sweden, were convinced that farming is becoming more attractive, and the CAP should address the diversity of European Agriculture.

A reception with Austrian, Finnish and Swedish drinks and appetizers followed the seminar.

Further information:

Heads of Brussels’ Offices of MTK, LRF and LKÖ

Mr. Matthias Gröger, m.groeger@lk-oe.at, +32 476 966 530, Mr. Matthias Gröger, m.groeger@lk-oe.at, +32 476 966 530, www.lko.at

Ms. Hanna Leiponen-Syyrakki, hanna.leiponen-syyrakki@mtk.fi, +32 476 502 704, https://www.mtk.fi/web/en

Ms. Ingrid Rydberg, ingrid.rydberg@lrf.se, +32 475 445 673, https://www.lrf.se/