Subject: INVITATION- European Crafts & Policy Dialogue - CRAFTOUR Conference at the European Parliament | 30 January 2026
From: <[email-masked]>
To: "'Jelena Krivokapic'" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2026 19:08:05 +0200

Tähelepanu! Tegemist on välisvõrgust saabunud kirjaga.
Tundmatu saatja korral palume linke ja faile mitte avada.

Good afternoon,

I am pleased to invite you to the CRAFTOUR General Conference, a
high-level policy event dedicated to the role of crafts and craft-based
SMEs as drivers of European competitiveness, employment and territorial
development. The conference, organised by Mad’in Europe on behalf of its
European partners, will take place on 30 January at the European
Parliament in Brussels (with both in-person and online participation).

The conference will be opened by Ms Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, Member of the
European Parliament, reflecting the growing political recognition of
crafts within European debates on competitiveness, skills, innovation,
regional development and cultural heritage.
The event will be introduced by Ms Katja Reppel, (REA), and conclusions
will be delivered by Ms Kristien Van Goey, (DG RTD).

Building on the presentation, in December, of CRAFTOUR’s first policy
recommendations to the European Commission, the conference will focus on
the economic contribution of crafts to Europe’s strategic priorities.
Discussions will highlight how craft-based SMEs and micro-enterprises
contribute to quality employment, entrepreneurship, resilient local and
regional economies, and high value-added production, while supporting
innovation, sustainability and skills renewal.

The conference will also address the interconnections between crafts and
key economic sectors, including heritage conservation and historic
buildings, tourism, design, fashion and luxury, as well as creative
industries, with particular attention to skills transmission, workforce
renewal and territorial cohesion.

Participants include representatives from European and international
organisations, national institutions, research and education bodies, and
craft enterprises. Importantly, the conference will give the floor
directly to craft professionals, ensuring that policy discussions are
firmly grounded in bottom-up perspectives, market realities and
operational experience.

Dedicated Q&A sessions will support direct exchange between policymakers,
practitioners and stakeholders.

The discussions will build on CRAFTOUR’s policy recommendations, which
call for:

*	stronger European frameworks to understand, monitor, measure and
valorise crafts.
*	reinforced transmission of skills and know-how, across formal and
non-formal pathways.
*	safeguarding and awareness of authenticity and living heritage.
*	support for innovative and sustainable business models for craft
SMEs.

On 30 January, these recommendations will be updated and strengthened,
integrating feedback from practitioners and stakeholders and reaffirming
the need to anchor European policies in the economic and territorial
realities of the craft sector.

We would be honoured by your participation in this discussion on crafts as
a strategic asset for Europe’s competitiveness, employment and sustainable
territorial development.

Yours sincerely,

Registration is mandatory to attend both in presence or online and must be
completed by 26 January. The full agenda and registration form are
available at  <https://projects.madineurope.eu/craftour/agenda/> this
link.

For online attendance, the link will be communicated the day before the
conference on the same link.

 <https://madineurope.eu/en/home/>

Madina Benvenuti _ Managing Director  Tel : +32 475 83 74 88

 <https://madineurope.eu/en/home/> Madineurope.eu the portal of cultural
heritage professionals

Member of CRAFTOUR

 <https://projects.madineurope.eu/craftour/>

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