Krakow – “This conference is a strategic step to strengthen the common voice of Europe’s mountain regions, to counter centralized tendencies in EU policies, and at the same time to share experiences and best practices that help ensure sustainable development and quality of life in our territories,” said Stefano Zannier, Friuli Venezia Giulia’s Regional Councillor for Agri-Food Resources, during the 30th anniversary meeting of Euromontana.

The event, held in Krakow where the network was founded, reflected on three decades of collective action and the socio-economic and environmental transformations that have shaped mountain areas. According to Zannier, Euromontana plays a key role in bringing together producers and the scientific community: “Mountain regions face the same challenges and must manage the same issues, wherever they are in Europe.”

Over the years, Euromontana has helped make the specific needs of mountain territories visible within EU policies, leading to more tailored rules. But today, Zannier warned, the European Commission’s plan to merge cohesion funds and the CAP into a single instrument risks creating a more centralized system, weakening the link with local realities and limiting states’ ability to manage resources effectively.