The Expert Level Meeting (ELM) held in Stockholm on 24–25 September 2025 brought together representatives from Forest Europe signatories and observers to advance the implementation of the Work Programme 2025–2026.

At the previous ELM in April the Forest Europe Work Programme for the two-year term under Swedish chairmanship was formally adopted. Building on that momentum the ELM now focused on collaborative input and strategic planning, with relevant updates such as on the key workstreams for A Dynamic Concept of Sustainable Forest Management and Keeping Forest Europe Fit for the Future.

Through the structured brainstorming sessions led by the Liaison Unit Sweden participants contributed directly to the development of SFM criteria and indicators and explored how Forest Europe can remain agile and relevant in a changing policy landscape. A central topic was the forthcoming Stockholm Ministerial Document, where preliminary ideas were shared, and feedback gathered to shape future policy directions.

“It has been a great pleasure and an honour to welcome all participants here to Stockholm, Sweden. These two days of productive dialogue and exchange mark a key milestone in the preparations for the upcoming 10^th Ministerial Conference”, says Ingeborg Bromée, deputy Head of Unit at the Swedish Ministry. “This ELM exemplified the collaborative spirit of Forest Europe and continued the living legacy of this regional forest policy process, as the key custodian of the SFM concept and its flagship products such as the State of Europe’s Forests 2025 report. The engagement and expertise shared during the meeting play a vital role in shaping the policy outline for sustainable forest management across the pan-European region”, Ingeborg Bromée concludes.

Cover photo: Delegates from Sweden – Ingeborg Bromée, deputy Head of Unit at the Ministry for Rural Affairs and Infrastructure, joined by Linda Reinholdsson, to the right, and Liselott Eriksson at the same unit to the left.