| 06 October 2009
Created in 1972, the European Landowners’ Organization (ELO)
contributes to close cooperation between rural communities, and in doing so aims
to counter the challenges of rural depopulation brought about by urbanization
and globalisation. As rural territories cover the vast majority of the European
area, a balanced development of these areas is necessary in order to enable the
countryside to generate economic activity and improve the rural environment by
protecting and enhancing environmental heritage.
ELO represents a large number of rural family business and enterprises as well
as individual actors in Europe involved in activities such as farming and
agriculture, forestry and cork, wine production, hunting and fishing as well as
water and waste treatment. ELO sets out to encourage sustainable development and
management, whilst promoting biodiversity, sustainable bioenergy, food safety,
responsible packaging, and combating climate change. ELO also strives to uphold
property rights notably in land use, cities, real estates, historic houses and
gardens.
In order to achieve all of this ELO relies on the Organization’s ability to
bring together rural actors, NGOs and political decision makers at local,
regional, national and European levels. In this way the voices and opinions of a
large number of stakeholders from all over the EU can be heard. A proactive
platform for analysis at the local level of the implementation of current EU
legislation is also achieved.
ELO believes that landowners, farmers and estate managers should have the
support and the tools available in order to be able to deliver on their
responsibilities whilst allowing them the freedom to make decisions based on
their many years of experience. With activities based on a network of some 59
associations in the EU-27 and Candidate Countries, as well as established high-level
contacts with institutions and field professionals, ELO facilitates this
development.
ELO is often invited in political and economic circles as a challenger. Its
ability to organise interdisciplinary meetings and to synthesize innovative
ideas puts it at the forefront of the think tanks in the agricultural and rural
activities sector.
For 35 years, ELO stands at the local, national and European levels in favour of landowners and land managers. Its permanent body, in the heart of the European boroughs, in Brussels, with 15 staff is in direct contact with political decision makers at the highest level, economic leaders and various stakeholders involved in the rural activities.
Its more than 54 members from all over Europe give it a powerful and efficient network to better understand, to explain and to influence the EU decisions. Joining ELO is not only a question of defending someone’s interests, it is also and more accurately a way to build the future so that Europe enjoys a balanced development.