European Crafts Conference
The event 2025
event brochure, 2025
The European Crafts Conference will take place on 12-13 March 2025 in the framework of the International Crafts Fair (IHM) in Munich. The conference will be held in English and moderated by German journalist and author Detlef Fechtner.
The Opening Ceremony will take stock of the challenges the skilled crafts companies face in the context of the transformation of the EU economy and discuss the specific role that these companies are playing when it comes to implementation. It will highlight what the companies within the skilled crafts sector bring to Europe, how they help achieve policy targets defined at EU level and why they are crucial for the European economy and society as such.
Three consecutive moderated panels will enable a focused discussion between EU decision makers, legislators, craft organizations and entrepreneurs on current trends in the skilled crafts sector. The panel discussions should allow for interactive audience participation and will cover relevant policy topics. A closing event will tie the different aspects together and give an outlook of the way forward.
Concept
The European Crafts Conference is organised jointly with the European crafts organisations from various EU Member States (Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, Poland, Greece, Austria, Luxembourg, with the support of SMEunited and the EEN). The conference is supposed to become a reoccurring event, taking place every 2-3 years in different EU Member States.
Together with entrepreneurs from all over Europe, we will discuss a vision for the future of the skilled crafts sector with politicians and EU officials from Brussels, put forward political demands for better support for businesses and highlight the importance of the skilled crafts sector for the transition to a sustainable and competitive economy. We intend to strengthen the visibility of skilled crafts across Europe.