The Friends of the Countryside
The Friends of the Countryside is a non-profit making organisation consisting of a network of like minded private landowners,
rural managers and entrepreneurs from 27 countries stretching from the Rockies & Andes to the Carpathians.
By means of innovative, regenerative and sustainable practices, this network promotes the long term interests of their land. Through the platform of the European Landowners’ Organisation, the FCS are able to ensure that their voice is heard throughout the European Union and well beyond.
The Friends of the Countryside and the European Landowners’ Organisation stand in solidarity with our Ukrainian colleagues and citizens. Property rights, collaboration, dialogue & freedom are ELO’s most prominent values.
The Pre Tour will take place from May 26 to May 30, 2024 and will begin in Florence and end in Siena.
For full details of the General Assembly, please head to the SIENA website.
A Presto!
Details of last year’s general assembly are still available on the POZNAN website or you can head to the Trusted Members Area (top right).
Current Events
The January-February issue no. 209 of the CountrySide Magazine, which includes ELO’s Manifesto for the European Elections, is out. You are invited to read it by clicking on the Publicationspage.
The Famigro Award, generously sponsored by our FCS Board member Karl Grotenfelt, is now open for applications!
Do consider any potential nominees within your network who meet the criteria and would benefit from this generous prize!
The European Bee Ceremony will take place:
Date: 10 December 2024
Time: 18:00 – 20:00
Location: European Parliament Brussels, ASP 00 G MEP Salon
The prize rewards land use and soil management practices mitigating soil threats. In doing so, the award sheds light on outstanding achievements, encouraging new concepts of land and soil protection and their implementation in land management, as well as enhancing awareness about the importance of land and soil functions, in Europe and extended territories.
ForumforAg launches its first annual report, which details the work it has undertaken and the progress made. It includes illustrations of the scalable initiatives many of our partners are implementing in these areas. Click here for its Call to Action Annual report
Dear Friends,
We had a highly successful ForumforAg with over 800 participants in the hall and as many on line. If you missed any of the discussion or would like to see parts again, you can watch the recordings here
A comprehensive Power Point Presentation of the activities that support landowners by the European Landowners’ Organisation from the FCS General Assembly in Siena in May 2024. Please click here to view it
**ELO Manifesto**
European Elections 2024 – This manifesto outlines our priorities ahead of the European elections, urging policymakers to recognize the central role of landowners in shaping a prosperous and harmonious future for Europe. For access, head to the ELO page.
The ELO Activity Report for **2023**
Brand new format!
For all the news on ELO Policies, Projects, Awards, Events and the ELO family, please click here to access the online version.
For past ELO Activity Reports, head to this ELO page.
We are pleased to present the study that we produced in association with the François Sommer Foundation, OFB and AGPB in both English and French. Please click on the image to download it.
This work aims to serve as a scientific basis for the adoption of measures favorable to biodiversity within the framework of the reform of the CAP.
In order to see such measures adopted by the agricultural world, (& hence the involvement of the AGPB in the writing of the book) various sessions will be held including the Biodiversity summit.
We invite you to distribute this study widely to whom it may concern.
Hardback copies are available on order for 25€ +p&p. Please email events(at)elo.org
Welcoming Estates Website: Countryside estates open to the public for private events, countryside getaways with a historic touch, countryside produce, sports, restaurants, picnics and so much more…
Click on the logo for a full list of estates, their history and activities on offer or visit our Instagram page!
Click on the image to access information about all our Previous Events.