The International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) participated in a series of high-level meetings in Brussels, where Director General Arno Wimpffen represented the organisation at the FACE General Assembly and a European Parliament event on “The Socio-Economic Impact of Hunting, Sport Shooting, and Related Sectors in Europe,” hosted by MEP Isabel Benjumea.
The parliamentary session presented new data on Europe’s civilian firearms, ammunition, and hunting industries, highlighting their contribution to employment, innovation, and rural economies across the EU, as well as in Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
In his first appearance in Brussels as Director General, Arno Wimpffen underlined the CIC’s commitment to collaboration with FACE and to strengthening evidence-based dialogue on sustainable use and conservation. He met with FACE President Laurens Hoedemaker and several CIC Members who are also members of FACE, reinforcing cooperation between the two organisations’ shared networks and objectives.
At the FACE General Assembly, discussions focused on key policy priorities including sustainable bird hunting, animal welfare, wolf downlisting, and the transition away from lead ammunition. The Polish Hunting Association presented its new national strategy, showcasing how hunting supports biodiversity and rural development.
The theme of the economic benefits of hunting, highlighted during the Brussels meetings, will be further explored at the upcoming CIC General Assembly in Vienna (16–19 April 2026), which will centre on The Wildlife Economy, emphasising how sustainable use contributes to conservation, livelihoods, and the management of natural capital.
Through these engagements, the CIC reaffirmed its role as a partner in European policy dialogue, ensuring that hunting and sustainable use remain recognised as vital components of biodiversity conservation and the rural economy.
Media Contact:
Tristan Breijer MBA FRGS FRSA MCIJ
Director of Communications and Public Affairs
CIC – International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation
Email: tristan.breijer@cic-wildlife.org
Mobile: +44 781 408 7423
Website: www.cic-wildlife.org
