Follow-up: EUSTAFOR’s WG Bioeconomy – 11/12 September 2017 #forestBioeconomy

The European Commission is expected to produce a Staff Working Document, presenting a review of the Bioeconomy Strategy, by mid-November. At the same time, there is a new policy context given by the Paris Agreement, the Climate and energy framework, the Circular Economy package, and the Sustainable Development Goals, which could give new momentum to the debate around a bioeconomy development. In order to update the EUSTAFOR position concerning the most recent and relevant EU Policy developments in relation to the Bioeconomy and Raw Materials, the Bioeconomy Working Group met in Brussels on 11 and 12 of September. In this page are available more information on the day 1 (for all) and on the day 2 (for EUSTAFOR members only).

Orientation day

11 September 2017 – from 13.00 to 16.30

Setting the scene on key EU Policy developments with a special focus on the Review of the Bioeconomy Strategy and the debate around the promotion of wood and cascade use of biomass within the new policy context. 

13.00 – 14.00 // Light Networking Lunch

1) Piotr Borkowski (Executive Director at EUSTAFOR)

• Welcoming words

14.00 – 15.10 // Policy context and development

2) Doru-Leonard Irimie (European Commission – DG for Research and Innovation)

• The Bioeconomy Strategy review process within the new policy context
• Role of stakeholders
• Forest-based bioeconomy and role of forest managers

3) Jeremy Wall (European Commission – DG for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs)

• Promotion of wood and its efficient use
• Challenges and opportunities for the biomass producer
• Role of the newly reconstituted EIP on Raw Materials

Q&A (30’)

15.10 – 16.15 // Sector views

5) Joanna Dupont-Inglis (Director Industrial Biotechnology at EuropaBio and Chair Bioeconomy Stakeholder Panel)

• Bioeconomy development from a non-forestry perspective
• Reflections on stakeholder involvement towards the review of the Bioeconomy Strategy
• The experience of the Bioeconomy Stakeholder Panel and upcoming Bioeconomy Stakeholder Manifesto

Stakeholder round and discussion (55’)

16.15 – 16.30 // Wrap-up

 6) Lena Bruce (Business Strategist at Sveaskog and EUSTAFOR WG Bioeconomy Chairperson)

• Role of state forests
• Concluding remarks