European forest cooperation project worth EUR 240 million to be coordinated by Finland
The launch of the European Forest Partnership on 1 June 20256 marks a significant step forward for forest cooperation in Europe. The ten-year project worth about EUR 240 million brings together 28 countries and 99 organisations to strengthen research and innovation activities in the European forest sector. Finland will coordinate the project, led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The coordination team to be set up in Helsinki will support the implementation of the project and smooth cooperation under it and coordinate the communication.
The European Forest Partnership promotes research and innovation cooperation in the European forest sector and improves communication and impact among the Member States. The partnership co-funded by the European Union brings together the national and European resources.
The partnership responds to the objective of the EU Forest Strategy to enhance cooperation between the Member States, reduce the fragmentation of public research efforts and improve the coordination of research priorities. The objective is also to strengthen the role of research knowledge in supporting decision-making and build common solutions for the sustainable use of forests in the rapidly changing operating environment.
Kick-off meeting in Helsinki in the autumn
During the summer the project will move on to a phase where the cooperation gets fully started and the key operating models are built together with partners.
An international Forest Partnership event will be held in Helsinki on 13–14 October to celebrate the launch of the project. High-level representatives of the European Commission are also expected to participate in the event.
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah welcomes the launch of the project.
“The European Forest Partnership strengthens cooperation in the European forest sector and supports research-based decision-making. For Finland, the role as the coordinator means an important opportunity to promote the targets related to the sustainable use of forests and build long-term cooperation at the European level. Finland has made determined efforts to strengthen European forest cooperation, and now this work bears fruit in a very concrete way,” Minister Essayah says.
Fact box European Forest Partnership
The European Partnership for Forests, Forestry and the Forest-Based Sector: Research and Innovation for a Sustainable Transition is a Horizon Europe programme (ID 101272463) that promotes cooperation and a sustainable transition in the European forest sector.
Inquiries at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Mika Kallio, Project Coordinator, European Forest Partnership | Primary Coordinator Contact
Email: mika.kallio@gov.fi, tel. +358 295 162 212
