SFIF Highlights Opportunities for the Forest Industry Under New EU Commission

The Director and Head of SFIF’s Brussels office, Kaisa Soro-Pesonen, emphasizes that this transition marks a departure from the previous term's intensive focus on regulatory initiatives under the Green Deal. The new European Commission, labeled the "Investment Commission," reflects the changing geopolitical landscape shaped by the pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and global instability.

"We need to invest in what Europe needs in order to manage the new challenges. We need to improve our global competitiveness, and we need to ensure that we establish our own security," explains Soro-Pesonen.

She highlights that the EU’s focus is shifting away from introducing extensive new climate and environmental regulations. Instead, the emphasis is on refining and simplifying existing rules.

"In this situation, the EU can no longer focus on piling up detailed new regulation on climate or environmental policy in the same way as might have been done during the previous term. The goals remain in place – we will continue working with climate goals and biodiversity – but the tools are different," she adds.

The forest industry stands to benefit from the EU’s commitment to improving the quality of legislation and streamlining processes.

"The focus will likely be on improving the quality of EU legislation, with better conditions for implementation and shorter permitting processes. The forest industry has been asking for this for a long time," says Soro-Pesonen.

She emphasizes that the early phase of this new Commission term offers an important opportunity.

"Conditions are more favourable for the industry to have its voice heard. Now, at the beginning of the new term, we have a window of opportunity to convey our message about solutions the forest can provide."

Despite the opportunities, Soro-Pesonen notes that misconceptions about forests persist.

"Many people still don’t realise the role forests can play in climate action. They view a forest as a carbon sink, and often stress the importance of protection and conservation. I rarely hear conversations in Brussels about the importance of managing and using forests in a way that benefits both the climate and biodiversity," she explains.

Several key policy initiatives relevant to the forest industry are on the horizon:

• The Clean Industrial Deal: This framework will promote industrial policies to accelerate the green transition.
• The Circular Economy Act: A new bill emphasizing circularity in both social and economic contexts.
• The Updated Bioeconomy Strategy:  This strategy will focus on sustainable use of bio-based resources, with preparations led by the Commission’s environment department under Commissioner Jessika Roswall.

About Kaisa Soro-Pesonen

Kaisa Soro-Pesonen brings over two decades of experience in European public affairs to her role at SFIF. Previously, she served as Head of the Brussels Office of the Confederation of Finnish Industries, Managing Director of Miltton Europe, and Partner at Kreab Brussels. She also worked as a Cabinet Member at the EU Commission.

A native of eastern Finland, Soro-Pesonen grew up surrounded by forests and maintains a personal connection to forestry.

"You have to drive 100 kilometres through the forest in any direction to get anywhere. The forest is my natural environment," she says. A graduate of Lund University in Sweden, she values the strong collaboration between Finland and Sweden.

"I think it’s wonderful that the Swedish forest industry has chosen a Finn for this position! It demonstrates how important the collaboration between Finland and Sweden can be."