On October 15, 2024, Euromontana elected a new President and Board aside of the European Mountain Convention in Puigcerdà (Catalonia). Laura Gascón Herrero from the Province of Teruel (Spain) will lead the organisation for the 2024–2028 term.

The European association of mountain areas convened for its General Assembly in Puigcerdà to appoint a 21-member Board, representing 11 European countries. This new Board of Directors will drive Euromontana’s activities, set thematic and policy priorities, and amplify the voice of Europe’s mountain areas. On 15 October, coinciding with the International Day of Rural Women, Laura Gascón Herrero was elected President of Euromontana.

I’m committed to working alongside our First Vice-President and the entire team to ensure that the voice of Europe’s mountain regions is heard loud and clear. As key European policies approach renewal, it’s crucial that our unique challenges and contributions are fully recognised, stated Laura Gascón Herrero, new President of Euromontana.

Laura Gascón Herrero was initially trained as a journalist and has been working at the Provincial Government of Teruel for 15 years. Active within Euromontana for more than 12 years, she has frequently spoken up for sparsely populated mountain areas within the network, and has pushed forward the topics of rural development, the promotion of cultural heritage and of the silver economy. Recently, Laura Gascón Herrero was also part of the G-100, 50 women and 50 men who worked to promote rural proofing in Spanish legislation, and represents Euromontana in the European Rural Pact Coordination Group.

As a novelty of this new mandate, Mario Grillo was also elected as First Vice President. Farmer in Calabria and President of Turismo Verde, the Cia-Agricoltori Italiani’s association for agritourism, Mario Grillo has a long experience of Euromontana and will contribute to bring the voice of mountain farmers on European agricultural files.

In addition to the President and First Vice-President, four Vice-Presidents and a new Treasurer have been appointed:

• Dominique Fayel, FNSEA (France) – Vice-President
• Juan Andrés Gutiérrez, HAZI – Basque government (Spain) – Vice-President
• Witold Kozłowski, Malopolska region (Poland) – Vice-President
• Adrian Radu Rey, Romontana (Romania) – Vice-President
• Danijel Bertović from SENSUM (Croatia) – Treasurer.