Prime Ministers of Finland and Sweden stress important role of forests in letter to European Commission President

Prime Minister Orpo and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson have sent a letter to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen stressing the great importance of forests and the forest industry for all of Europe and its work to combat climate change.

In their letter, the prime ministers highlight the significance of forests for climate and the environment and their role in providing raw materials, absorbing carbon dioxide and creating healthy soil. The prime ministers express their view that these vital functions of forests are best preserved through national practices and know-how.

In the letter, the prime ministers also note the challenges posed by newly negotiated EU legislation on energy, climate and the environment for their countries’ forests and forestry. In the current situation, it is important to focus on the implementation of legislation and on analysing its overall impact on forests.

The prime ministers point out that as part of the bioeconomy, forestry is an integral part of the EU’s green transition policy. It also supports the EU’s objective of strengthening its long-term competitiveness. The growing demand for sustainable products and the developing potential of wood-based products create a vast opportunity for a highly competitive European industry.

The Prime Ministers stress the key role of clear, coherent and predictable regulation in this work.

Inquiries: Jori Arvonen, State Under-Secretary for European Affairs, tel. +358 50 553 6117 and Tuomas Tikkanen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 40 523 5768