Cei-Bois and Eos: Paul Brannen the “new name”

European Woodworking Industries appoint former MEP to new role of Director of Public Affairs

Cei-Bois and Eos have appointed Paul Brannen, former UK Member of the European Parliament, to the newly created role of Director of Public Affairs. Paul Brannen started his mandate on the 1st of November 2020. Cei-Bois, which represents the European Woodworking Industries, and the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry (Eos) have created this role with the intention of boosting their advocacy activities towards the European Commission and the European Parliament.

Commenting on the move Cei-Bois Chair Anders Ek said: “The time has come for us to make a much stronger case to European decision makers that wood-based products are a part of the solution to mitigate the climate crisis. Paul Brannen established a strong reputation during his time as a MEP as an advocate for increased timber use to help create a more sustainable society hence we are very pleased to have secured him as a member of our team”.

Sampsa Auvinen, Eos President, added: “We were delighted to see the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, specifically reference the important contribution building in wood can make to tackling climate change in her recent speech to the European Parliament. We are hoping the appointment of former MEP Brannen to this new advocacy role can help turn our collective aspirations into the legislative and policy changes that will deliver a significant increase in timber use especially in the construction industry to the benefit of the climate”.

Paul Brannen commented: “As a Mep I served on both the Parliament’s environment and agriculture committees and was rapporteur on the last forest strategy and also on the Lulucf legislation. I’m convinced, in part as a result of visiting some of the world’s largest timber buildings, that the sequestration of carbon in long life timber products is one of the most significant ways in which we can tackle climate change”.