MTK’s Approach to Sustainable Rural Livelihoods

MTK presented its approach to sustainability, which is built around eight key areas, including climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, healthy soils, the circular economy, animal welfare, water management, and the use of data and artificial intelligence. Together with its members, MTK promotes responsible food production, family forestry, and rural entrepreneurship as the foundation of sustainable rural livelihoods.

Simplification Needed to Safeguard Competitiveness

MTK welcomed the European Commission’s recent simplification initiatives, noting that the first environmental omnibus package is a positive step forward. At the same time, MTK stressed that further simplification is essential. Reducing administrative burden is necessary to safeguard competitiveness, but simplification should also include a critical review of regulation and more realistic targets that can be implemented in practice.

Environmental Policy Concerns Raised by MTK

During the discussions, MTK highlighted several current policy concerns within the remit of the Directorate-General for Environment. These included the Nature Restoration Regulation, which MTK believes should be reviewed as soon as possible to increase national flexibility and better balance environmental objectives with security of supply and competitiveness.

MTK also called for reopening the Birds and Habitats Directives, pointing to growing damage caused by large carnivores and the need to strengthen legal certainty and property rights.

EUDR: Disproportionate Burden on Primary Producers

The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) was another key topic. While some progress has been made, MTK emphasised that the regulation remains disproportionately burdensome for primary producers, particularly small-scale operators. MTK called for targeted legal changes and the full recognition of existing national data systems to improve feasibility and market certainty.

Bioeconomy as an Opportunity for Growth

MTK welcomed the European Bioeconomy Strategy as an important opportunity to strengthen agriculture and forestry in Europe. The organisation stressed that competitiveness and reduced bureaucracy must remain central priorities and that farmers and forest owners must receive a fair share of the value added created along bioeconomy value chains.

Forests, MTK underlined, are a cornerstone of Finland’s bioeconomy. Increasing the use of wood products—especially in construction—offers significant, yet underutilised, climate benefits and should be further promoted at EU level.