The 42nd FTP Advisory Committee (AC) meeting took place on 28 November 2017 in Brussels with the attendance of representatives from 14 countries, as well as FTP shareholders, research umbrella organizations, and observers including the European Commission. At the meeting, participants discussed FTP’s recent work and achievements, exchanged information on national activities and shared ideas about the upcoming Austrian Presidency. 

The AC members warmly welcomed the news from Romania, as announced by Bogdan Popa from Transylvania University (UTBv), that joint national efforts will be made to re-establish a Romanian NSG in the upcoming year. 

After disseminating details of a successful seminar co-organized by NSG Estonia and FTP, as part of the Estonian EU Council presidency, a discussion on an upcoming Austrian presidency event took place. This event will provide a timely opportunity for the sector to increase its visibility, in preparations towards FP9.

FTP’s managing director, Johan Elvnert, presented the Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2018-2020 and explained the various opportunities it holds for the forest-based sector. FTP will continue to advocate for better opportunities, higher success rates for applicants for funding, and less bureaucracy. It seems likely that the European Commission intends for Europe’s citizens to have a more direct influence over the priorities of FP9, in comparison to previous framework programmes. This highlights the importance of FTP’s broad, inclusive and bottom-up approach in finding adequate solutions for society. 

The next AC meeting will take place in Brussels on 22 March 2018, from 10:30h to 15:30h.