From 16–19 June 2026, FACE attended the Informal Meeting of EU Hunting Directors held in Kuldīga, Latvia. Hosted by the Latvian Ministry of Agriculture, the meeting brought together senior officials responsible for hunting and wildlife management from across the European Union.

Discussions focused on current challenges in hunting governance, large carnivore management, international legal developments related to hunting, and the use of digital tools to support game management and decision-making. Participants also exchanged experiences on topics including wildlife monitoring, forest browsing damage, African swine fever, and national approaches to implementing nature restoration objectives.

Dr David Scallan, FACE Secretary General, provided an overview of recent European policy developments affecting hunting and conservation, including the ongoing “stress test” of the Birds and Habitats Directives.

As observers, FACE (and the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation) welcomed the opportunity to contribute to discussions promoting practical, science-based approaches to sustainable wildlife management across Europe.