Apimondia is the International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations and other organizations working within the apiculture sector since 1895. As a global organization, Apimondia’s Executive Council comprises the members of the Management Board, the seven Chairpersons of the Scientific Commissions, and the five Chairpersons of the Regional Commissions.
The purpose of the Regional Commissions (RC) is to act as a liaison between the beekeeping sector of each continent and Apimondia, ensuring better cooperation among regional beekeeping associations. These commissions support national beekeeping associations and help local organizations promote Apimondia Congresses, symposia, and other regional events. They also coordinate the activities of the Working Groups with the Scientific Commissions at a regional level.
Apimondia has members from 36 European countries, covering nearly the entire continent. In some countries, there is a single beekeeping association that represents a significant portion of beekeepers, while in others, there are two or more organizations. Apimondia has two categories of members:
• Full Members: Beekeepers’ associations operating at the national level (currently 42).
• Associate Members: Local beekeepers’ associations, federations, beekeeping research institutions, universities, etc. (currently 18).
There are several formal and informal European platforms coordinating activities and initiatives related to the beekeeping sector in Europe. Regional, cultural, or linguistic affiliations remain visible, like in Apislavia, the Nordic–Baltic Bee Council, the Mediterranean Beekeeping Federation (Fed Api Med), the V4 Beekeeping Council, the Balkan Federation of Apicultural Associations, and the Beekeeping Federation of Turkic Nations. Some European beekeeping coordination activities focus only on EU countries (e.g., BeeLife and the European Professional Beekeepers Association, EPBA), while others aim to cover the entire European territory, such as your European Beekeeping Association (EBA).
We try to be as close as possible to our members, in 2024 I had the opportunity to discuss with beekeepers in person during events in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Austria and Turkyie and to meet with representatives of beekeepers from many more European countries. The primary goal of Apimondia RC Europe is to bridge the gap between EU and non-EU countries. In this context, Apimondia RC Europe serves as a coordination and communication hub, sharing ideas and initiatives. We are not policymakers, but we can provide support to national beekeeping associations with their governments or regional entities.
Closer cooperation and specialization are necessary, as most individuals actively working in these federations are volunteers with limited time to address various challenges, from ecological concerns (e.g., pesticide protection) to legislative matters (e.g., proposing legislative changes and lobbying at the European Commission or European Parliament levels).
Apimondia’s Involvement in European Projects
Apimondia actively participates in European projects. The BeeGuards project, a four-year initiative, aims to provide sustainable management practices, novel breeding strategies, and digital and forecasting tools to help the beekeeping sector adapt to a changing environment. The B-Thenet project is a collaborative effort promoting sustainable beekeeping practices across Europe. Led by a network of 18 partners, it brings together beekeeper representatives and research institutions from 13 EU member states. Apimondia plays a dual role in this project, serving as both a national and international center.
Our work primarily involves discussions, organizing meetings and congresses, and preparing Position Papers. Some of our recent European activities include participation in EU Pollinator Week, The Technical Round Table of the HarmHoney Project or the first International Forum for Action on Sustainable Beekeeping and Pollination held in Slovenia. Apimondia has a longstanding collaboration with FAO on sustainable beekeeping, spanning over 60 years.
In March 2024, we organized an online Apimondia Webinar on invasive species. In June, the Apimondia Bee Health Symposium took place in Madrid. The Apimondia Statement on Honey Fraud will soon be updated with a Statement on immature honey. Apimondia is also a member of the EU Honey Platform and is actively engaged in EU beekeeping-related policy discussions. Our representatives participate in Copa-Cogeca’s Working Party on Honey and meetings of major European beekeeping federations.
In March or April, Apimondia will organize a Honey Adulteration Hybrid Event in Italy.
Apimondia Congresses – A Key Networking Tool
The main platform for beekeeper networking is Apimondia Congresses. On behalf of Scandinavian beekeepers, we invite you to participate in the 49th Apimondia Congress in Copenhagen, September 2025. The event will be jointly organized by beekeeper associations from Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Our goal is to create a congress for bees, beekeepers, scientists, the industry, and people from around the world who care about bees, honey, and beekeeping.
The proposed Apimondia 2025 Congress program will feature Europe-focused round tables and workshops addressing key challenges in European beekeeping, changes in European legislation, and presentations on ongoing EU projects.
For more information on Apimondia activities, visit www.apimondia.org, where you can find links to our social networks, allowing you to watch video streams, read newsletters, download congress proceedings, and stay updated on the latest news. You can also follow updates on the world’s largest beekeepers’ meeting in Copenhagen at www.apimondia2025.com.
Robert Chlebo, Apimondia RC Europe
