“Biodiversity, Hunting, Countryside” Intergroup
Known as “Hunting Intergroup”, the European Parliament’s Intergroup on “Biodiversity, Hunting, Countryside” was created in 1985 and is one of the oldest and most active parliamentary discussion platforms. FACE has provided the secretariat for the Intergroup since its very first establishment. The European Landowners’ Organization (ELO) joined as co-secretariat in 2004.
This Intergroup serves as the key stakeholder platform within the European Parliament (EP), enabling open discussion between decision-makers, European Commission, stakeholders and experts, aiming to affirm the crucial role of rural actors and the socio-economic importance of countryside activities.
On 19 December 2019, with more than 150 supporting Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from all political spectrum, the Conference of Presidents approved its re-establishment sending a strong political message for this 2019-2024 parliamentary term.
On 13 February 2020, the Intergroup held its first meeting to agree on the President, MEP Alvaro Amaro (Portugal, EPP), 7 Vice-Presidents, Simone Schmiedtbauer (Austria, EPP), Alex Agius Saliba (Malta, S&D), Elsi Katainen (Finland, Renew Europe), Marco Dreosto (Italy, ID), Andżelika Możdżanowska (Poland, ECR), Carmen Avram (Romania, S&D), Jérémy Decerle (France, Renew Europe), Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez (Spain, EPP) and a Secretary General, Annie Schreijer-Pierik (Netherlands, EPP).
The Intergroup organises regular meetings in the European Parliament to encourage fruitful exchange of views and, in some cases decides to adopt positions, resolutions or recommendations. In 2020, due to the Covid-19 restrictions, all meetings were held remotely via online meeting platforms.
More information as well as video recordings of these meetings and speakers’ presentations are available in the below website section and on the Intergroup website: www.biodiversityhuntingcountryside.eu
