Ministerial Conferences
Ministerial conferences represent the most important events of FOREST EUROPE work on sustainable forest management and related issues. At ministerial conferences the ministers responsible for forests in Europe take decisions on issues of highest political and social relevance regarding forests and forestry. Ministerial Conferences on the Protection of Forests in Europe took place in 1990 in Strasbourg, in 1993 in Helsinki, in 1998 in Lisbon, in 2003 in Vienna and in 2007 in Warsaw.
Between the Ministerial conferences FOREST EUROPE is continuously working on relevant issues through the activities of:
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Expert Level Meetings
The FOREST EUROPE Expert Level Meeting (ELM) is the decision-making body between the conferences. The Expert Level Meetings are attended by representatives of the FOREST EUROPE signatories (46 European countries and the European Community) as well as by observers from non-European countries, international organisations including stakeholders such as environmental and social NGOs, forest and land owners’ federations, forest industry and the scientific community. The FOREST EUROPE signatories have the mandate to take decisions regarding implementation of commitments made by the ministers and to prepare upcoming ministerial conferences.
Round Table Meetings
Round Table Meetings are platforms for strategic discussions and exchange of information and views on emerging issues. These meetings aim at exchange of information and opinions, to provide essential guidance for the implementation of FOREST EUROPE decisions as well as on strategic developments of FOREST EUROPE.
Working groups, seminars and workshops
FOREST EUROPE working groups, seminars and workshops represent ad hoc work focused on specific subjects of scientific, technical or political nature. Dependent on subject, these meetings are attended by FOREST EUROPE representatives as well as by nominated experts from specific areas. The results of these meetings are presented for consideration to the subsequent Expert Level Meeting.
Supportive structures:
General Co-ordinating Committee
The General Co-ordinating Committee (GCC) coordinates the FOREST EUROPE work and advises the Liaison Unit on implementation of FOREST EUROPE decisions and on strategic developments. The General Coordinating Committee is also responsible for funding of the Liaison Unit and its activities. Currently, the GCC is constituted by five countries: Norway, Poland, Spain, Slovak Republic and Germany. In accordance with the established practice of FOREST EUROPE, the General Co-ordinating Committee consists of the country which holds the chairmanship of the process and will convene the next Ministerial Conference, the country which organised the previous Ministerial Conference and three more countries which will succeed in the line of chairing FOREST EUROPE. At present Norway holds the chairmanship.
Liaison Unit
The Liaison Unit is the support office for the cooperation of ministers responsible for forests in Europe. It organises and carries out all international FOREST EUROPE meetings and prepares reports and necessary documentation for meetings. The Liaison Unit is located in the country which holds the chairmanship of FOREST EUROPE – currently the office is situated in Oslo, Norway, under the name of Liaison Unit Oslo.
