Members of the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) voted yesterday at the organisation’s AGM in Hainburg an der Donau, Austria to elect two co-presidents for the next 12 months. Mikael Karlsson, who has been president of the EEB for the last 11 years, will lead the organisation with Jouni Nissinen, head of the environmental policy unit at the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation.

Mikael Karlsson and Jouni Nissinen said:

“It is high time for the EU to develop, adopt and implement a globally leading strategy for transformational change that puts the interests of people and planet first. We will work hard to help the EEB and its members to promote this, encouraging Europe and its institutions, citizens, business and NGOs to create a Europe that blooms and prospers and shows solidarity with fellow beings, future generations and the environment, upon which everything else depends.”

The EEB also agreed its 2017 work programme at the AGM. This acknowledges the challenges facing Europe after the Brexit vote and in the face of increasing social and environmental challenges.  In this context, the EEB, articulating the views and concerns of a wide and diverse group of environmental organisations, will continue to promote environmental justice, sustainable development and participatory democracy throughout the EU and beyond.