updated 05.05.2008

 







FACE works closely with Members of
the European Parliament (MEP's). Since
1985, it ensures the Secretariat of the EP
'Hunting' Intergroup, a platform for contact
between the EP and civil society. After it was
reconstituted in December 2004 thanks to the
support of 150 MEP's, it has adopted the name
"Sustainable Hunting, Biodiversity & Countryside Activities".

 

Its objectives are :
=> To promote the role of hunting and other forms of
sustainable use of wild species for biodiversity, for wildlife management and for rural development;

=>
To discuss current issues (Proposals for Directives and Regulations, Resolutions, Petitions, etc.) related to wildlife management and rural development, and dealt with by the European Parliament.

     



  



Bureau

The day-to-day management of the Intergroup is the responsibility of a Bureau, consisting of one President-Coordinator, one First Co-President and an unspecified number of Co-Presidents. Participating in the Intergroup activities is open to all MEPs willing to promote in the European Parliament conservation, sustainable use, hunting, fishing, the countryside and its traditions, without any distinction between their Group affiliation, Committee membership or nationality. The Intergroup wants to be as representative as possible for the political spectrum and/or for the different Member States.

President-Coordinator: M. EBNER (EPP-ED / I)
First Co-President: V. MATHIEU (EPP-ED / F)
Co-Presidents:

S. BERLATO (UEN / I), A. DESS (EPP-ED / D), L. EK (ALDE / SW),
D. GRABOWSKI (UEN / POL), L. de GRANDES (EPP-DE / ES),
L. LETHINEN (PES / FIN), A. LULLING (EPP-ED / LUX), R. STURDY
(EPP-ED / UK), H. GOUDIN (IND/DEM / SW).

 
Activities

MEPs associated with the Intergroup...

=> promote the sustainable management and use of wildlife and ecosystems;

=> defend the interests of 7 million European hunters and of many more other countryside people, contributing so to strengthen the democratic legitimacy of the Parliament;

=> be able to initiate a helpful discussion in the European Parliament on national / regional issues relating to biodiversity, the countryside, etc.;

=> stress the importance of hunting as an activity with significant socio-economic impact in the E.U. (a total turn-over of 5 billion € per year and 120,000 full-time jobs!);

=> have access to a reliable database on wildlife management and conservation and to permanent advice and assistance from hunting representatives on wildlife related EU texts and initiatives.


The draft program for the coming Intergroup meetings for the current year is as follows (to be defined):

Date
Time
Location
Topic
22.05.2008 14:30-15:30   Challenges of hunting in Nordic Countries
News

The book "Sustainable hunting" by Intergroup President M. EBNER is now also available in English. It gives an interesting and readable overview (230 pages, many illustrations) of 20 years of activities of the "Sustainable Hunting" Intergroup in the European Parliament, of the main EU "wildlife" legislation and of hunting in Europe. Copies may be ordered from the FACE Secretariat (info@face.eu) at a price of 15 €.

Minutes
Intergroup - 12.03.2008: Hunting in the Mediterranean countries  
Intergroup - 20.02.2008: Joint meeting of "Sustainability" Intergroups
Intergroup - 26.09.2007: Hunting, public perception & education
+ Declaration for European Green Day.(26.09.07)   
Intergroup - 11.07.2007: Intergroup informs MEPs on how to assess the sustainability of hunting
Intergroup - 23.05.2007: The pressure of predatory birds on the ecosystems
+ Declaration on the management of Great Cormorants.(23.05.07)  
Intergroup - 05.07.2006 : Towards an Alliance of Rural Organisations   
Intergroup - 14.06.2006 : Country Estates and Wildlife Management in the EU
Intergroup - 15.03.2006 : Avian Influenza and Conservation of Wild Birds   
Intergroup - 15.02.2006 : Management of large carnivores in the EU
  
Intergroup - 14.12.2005 : Invasive alien species and their impact on biodiversity
  
+ Resolution on invasive alien animal species (adopted 15.02.06)   
Intergroup - 16.11.2005 : Jubilee Session   
Intergroup - 28.09.2005 : "Birds" Directive and Guidance document on hunting  
Intergroup - 06.07.2005 : Land ownership rights and hunting rights   
Intergroup - 11.05.2005 : Trapping (+ Resolution on Game-keepers)   
Intergroup - 09.03.2005 : Rural Development   
Intergroup - 23.02.2005 : Game-keepers   
Intergroup - 15.12.2004 : Constitutive meeting
  
Press Releases 2008
12.03.2008, Hunting in the Mediterranean countries   

 
20.02.2008, Special Di@ry PR; Joint meeting of "Sustainability" Intergroups   

 
16.01.2008, Intergroup contributes to CAP Health Check debate   
   
Press Releases 2007
14.11.2007, Intergroup discusses role of hunters for animal and public health   

 
26.09.2007, MEPs advised that European hunters must take charge of forming public opinionon hunting and conservation   

 
11.07.2007, Intergroup informs MEPs on how to assess the sustainability of hunting
  

 
23.05.2007, Intergroup and MEPs call on EU guidelines on damages caused by cormorants and other predatory birds in Europe

 
14.03.2007, African representatives call upon the EU to promote sustainable and community-based use of wildlife in the framework of CITES   
Declaration on CITES adopted by the Intergroup during this meeting

14.02.2007, Intergroup discusses game-meat / animal-by products and firearms   
Press Releases 2006
05.07.2006, Intergroup advocates "alliance" of all rural sectors   

 
15.03.2006, Intergroup discusses Avian flu and its threats for wild birds   

 
15.02.2006, Intergroup discusses management of large carnivores   
 
Press Releases 2005
17.11.2005, European Parliament rejects "Humane trapping" Proposal   

 
16.11.2005, European Parliament "Sustainable Hunting" Intergroup celebrates its 20th anniversary + RESOLUTION   

 
11.05.2005, The "Sustainable Hunting, Biodiversity & Countryside Activities" Intergroup debates the Proposal for a “Humane Trapping Standards” Directive   

23.02.2005, Intergroup adopts the name "Sustainable Hunting, Biodiversity & Countryside Activities"   
 
15.12.2004, EP Intergroup “Fieldsports & Conservation” reconstituted   
 
Contact

 

For more information on the Intergroup, please contact its secretariat

FACE - Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the EU
Rue F. Pelletier 82
B - 1030 Brussels
Tel: +32.2.732 69 00
Fax: +32.2.732 70 72
publicaffairs (at) face.eu