Finnish Visitors at the Forestry House in Brussels

During the first week of November, two Finnish groups visited the European Forestry House

The EU Academy for the Forest Sector, organized for the first time this year, began in the spring with training sessions in Finland and culminated in two days spent in Brussels. Under the theme “European Forestry House – the Brussels forestry hub: Building common positions at EU Level – challenges and lessons,” the participants gathered at the Forestry House to hear insights from different organizations on forming positions and influencing EU decision-making.

During the EU academy studies, participants learned from a diverse group of experts about EU decision-making, national and Brussels-level position formation, advocacy work, communication, and building networks and working within networks. Funded by the Finnish Forest Foundation and implemented by TTS Työtehoseura, the academy aims to strengthen the EU expertise of forest sector professionals ensuring that more professionals are equipped for advocacy work.

Students from Suomussalmi

A group of students from Suomussalmi Upper Secondary School spent an intense week in Brussels and in Ghent. The day they spent at the Forestry House offered an opportunity to have a look into the world of advocacy and hear about how organizations are working for the benefit of forests and rural areas in Europe.

“At least for me, it became clear what advocacy really is and how significant a role it plays in EU decision-making,” said teacher Tuuli Raappana after the visit.

Students Matilda Seppänen and Martta Anttonen gave a thank-you speech at the end of the visit: “The visit inspired young people in the small village to work for the benefit of our forests also at the international level.” Forestry issues are particularly relevant to Finns (the most forested country in Europe) and the residents of Suomussalmi (one of the most forested municipalities in Finland), which is why the group considered forest-related issues to be important and forests and forest-related work and hobbies play a major role in the students’ everyday lives.

It was a pleasure to take part in the EU Academy and to welcome both current professionals and the builders of the future to the Forestry House.

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