Mission Statement for the European Peatland Policy Working Group 

“To facilitate the alignment of all relevant policies, providing information and analysis to enable the large-scale conservation, restoration and sustainable management of peatlands across Europe with the aim of enhancing their ecological functions, biodiversity and water retention, ensuring the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in line with international climate targets, biodiversity targets and sustainable development goals.” 

Governance and membership

• The EPPWG was created within the frame of the LIFE MultiPeat project and is facilitated by Eurosite – the European Land Conservation Network;
• the group will be maintained after the project is completed;
• the group will include at least one representative from each European country with significant peatland resources;
• members of the group will have expertise in different policy sectors and institutional backgrounds;
• during the Multi Peat project the group secretariat will consist of the EPPWG chair and representatives of Eurosite and NABU (Multi Peat project leader) thereafter the secretariat composition will be reviewed annually by the members using consensus; 
• members are invited and proposed by the secretariat and approved by consensus of the group.

Activities and tasks

• Internal WG meetings (every 2-3 months). 
• Open WG meetings once a year.
• Consultation and discussion of the recommendations for CAP, WFD and other European policies affecting peatlands.
• Maintenance of the contact with the EC and European agencies - members of the working group will meet or inform the representatives of the EC and European agencies about the recommendations of the group (every 6 months). 
• Initiate joint policy positions, depending on political momentum
• Support other initiatives focused on the improvement of European peatland policies.
• Support policy relevant initiatives by consensus.
• Contribution to the “Peatland Post” E-newsletter.
• Contribution to the building of knowledge base libraries.
• Support the development of funding applications and research opportunities.

Chair of the group

Niall Ó Brolcháin, University of Galway

Contact and facilitation

Wojciech Mróz, Eurosite

EPPWG Leaflet:

EPPWG meetings:

• Kick-off meeting: 14 December 2022
• Meeting 2: 15 February 2023
• Meeting 3: 9 March 2023
• Meeting 4: 17 May 2023
• Meeting 5: 31 May 2023
• Meeting 6: 12 July 2023, Focus: CAP
• Meeting 7: 13 September 2023, Focus: WFD
• Meeting 8: 15 November 2023, Focus: Ireland
• Meeting 9: 6 March 2024, Focus: Poland
• Meeting 10: 5 June 2024, Focus: Germany
• Meeting 11: 4 September 2024: Webinar “Aligning CAP & NRL: Peatland perspectives from across Europe”. Recording
• Meeting 12: 12 February 2025, Focus: Peatland policy in Flanders in the wider European context 
• Meeting 13: 9 April, 2025, Focus: Common Agricultural Policy and the chances and challenges for peat
• Meeting 14: 15 October, 2025, Focus: Implementation of the Nature Restoration Regulation and its impact on peatland conservation, restoration and management
• Meeting 15: 3 December, 2025, Focus: Peatland conservation and restoration in the Common Agricultural Policy
• Meeting 16: 1 April 2026, planned
• Meeting 17: 24 June 2026, planned