Euromontana

Euromontana is the European association for mountain areas, a membership-based organisation that brings together regional authorities, development agencies, research institutes, and other stakeholders from mountain regions across Europe. Its mission is to promote the sustainable development of mountain areas, improve the quality of life of mountain communities, and ensure that mountain interests are represented in European policies. The association works on a wide range of policy areas, including territorial development, rural development, territorial cohesion, demography, connectivity, sustainable tourism, environment, climate change, nature, forests, energy, and agriculture. It is particularly active in advocating for mountain farming, pastoralism, and mountain products, and it campaigns for the recognition of mountain areas in EU legislation and funding programmes. Euromontana is headquartered in Paris, France, and operates across Europe. It engages with European institutions, particularly the European Commission and the European Parliament, to influence policies that affect mountain regions. The association is known for its work on the Optional Quality Term 'mountain products', which was adopted by the European Union in 2012. Euromontana has long campaigned for the valorisation of mountain foods and continues to monitor the uptake of the label across EU member states. It also works on issues such as the Right to Stay, the EU Livestock Strategy, and nature-positive economic solutions for resilient mountain futures. As a network organisation, Euromontana facilitates exchange of knowledge and good practices among its members, organises events and conferences, and publishes reports and policy recommendations. Its activities are funded through membership fees, project grants, and partnerships. The association is a key interlocutor for EU institutions on mountain-related matters and collaborates with other organisations to advance the interests of mountain areas.

Euromontana was established as a European association to represent the interests of mountain areas. While the exact founding year is not provided in the available evidence, the organisation has been active in European policy discussions for decades. It has long campaigned for the valorisation of mountain foods and, since the early 2000s, has demonstrated the benefits of a 'mountain' labelling that would guarantee the origin of raw and processed products and help strengthen mountain value chains. This advocacy contributed to the adoption of the Optional Quality Term 'mountain products' by the European Union in 2012. Euromontana continues to monitor the uptake of this label across EU member states and supports its further implementation. The association has also been involved in a wide range of policy areas, including territorial development, rural development, environment, climate change, agriculture, and sustainable tourism. It regularly engages with European institutions, organises events, and publishes policy recommendations. In 2026, Euromontana called for mountain areas to be included in the upcoming Right to Stay Strategy and reacted to the EU Livestock Strategy. It also partnered with the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region for an EU Green Week event on mountain transitions.

• Adoption of the Optional Quality Term 'mountain products' by the European Union, strongly supported by Euromontana.

• Euromontana partners with the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region for an official EU Green Week event on mountain transitions.

• Euromontana reacts to the EU Livestock Strategy adopted on 7 July.

• Euromontana calls for mountain areas to be included in the upcoming Right to Stay Strategy, highlighting ten recommendations.

European association representing mountain areas and advocating for mountain-friendly policies.

1. 1Euromontanaeuromontana.org
2. 2Mountain products – Euromontanaeuromontana.org
3. 3Wikidatawikidata.org