On 24–25 March, the leaders of Europe’s national hunting associations, representing over 7 million hunters, met in Copenhagen for the FACE Members’ Meeting. FACE President Laurens Hoedemaker warmly thanked Claus Lind Christensen, President of the Danish Hunters’ Association, and his team for hosting the meeting and for their strong engagement on shared European priorities.

President Hoedemaker stated: “What came through clearly in Copenhagen is the strength of our coordination and network to respond effectively to the main European developments affecting hunting and conservation.”

Discussions focused on current high-level issues affecting hunting and conservation, including small game and migratory bird protection, large carnivore management, and developments in firearms and ammunition policy. The meeting provided an important opportunity to align positions and strengthen FACE’s shared messaging in support of constructive engagement with European institutions. There was also a strong emphasis on reviewing FACE’s strategic priorities towards 2030 through breakout work sessions.

To further strengthen FACE communications, a Communications Working Group meeting was organised alongside the Members’ Meeting, chaired by Garry Doolan (Director of Communications at BASC). The meeting brought together communications experts from across the membership and focused on next steps for FACE’s communications strategy, including how to better support advocacy and improve the social acceptance of hunting.

The programme also included an overview of hunting in Denmark, covering legislation, policy, and practice, as well as presentations on the Nordic region and how the workshop outcomes can inform future strategic work.

Claus Lind Christensen, President of the Danish Hunters’ Association, underlined the importance of working together across Europe: “This meeting shows the real strength of our community — unity, solidarity, and collaboration. By working closely together across countries, we can ensure that hunting continues to play a positive role for nature, biodiversity, and society across Europe.”

The next FACE General Assembly will take place on 29–30 September 2026 in Brussels.