Brussels, 15 May 2012: Bendt Bendtsen MEP, Dan Jørgensen MEP and the Danish Brewers’ Association hosted a European Parliament Beer Club reception at The Brewers of Europe House. Guests enjoyed a selection of high-quality Danish beers to mark the EU Danish Presidency and the important role beer plays in Denmark and all the 27 EU Member States in which it is brewed.
The event was the opportunity for members of the Danish Beer Club, composed of national parliamentarians, to join leading MEPs including their Danish colleagues to discuss and exchange views on the European beer sector in a convivial atmosphere. Also joining the celebration of beers from their home country were special guests NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and European Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard.
In his welcome address, Dan Jørgensen MEP highlighted the importance of the EP Beer Club in facilitating these exchanges and complemented the broad range of beers available, created by small and SME brewers and multinational brands, “Danish beers are some of the best beers in Europe and that’s a big thing because European beers are definitely the best beers in the world.”
Bendt Bendtsen MEP highlighted the important socio-economic contribution of beer, “Denmark has about 120 breweries, big ones and small ones, which make really good beer.” These breweries add €760 million to the Danish economy and 21,400 jobs. Europe’s 3,500+ brewers add €50 billion to the European economy and generate over 2 million jobs in Europe.
Eight Danish breweries kindly provided a variety of high-quality beers, representing different beer styles and catering for all tastes. Introducing the choice of beers on offer, Master Brewer Anders Kissmeyer highlighted that, “The beer sector creates joy most of all. That is our business – to produce joy.”
Mr Kissmeyer also commented on the leading role that the sector is taking to reduce alcohol-related harm and called on politicians not to take the easy way out by penalising responsible consumption, “Combat abuse, don’t combat consumption.”
Photos:
http://www.debatty.com/jobs/2012-05-15-ep-beer/
High resolution photos from the event will soon be available upon request and via the EP Beer Club website at: http://www.epbeerclub.eu/ep_beer_club_photos.asp
Contact details:
http://www.epbeerclub.eu/ep_beer_club_contacts.asp
About the European Parliament Beer Club
Established in 1995, the European Parliament (EP) Beer Club is a forum for discussion and information exchange about issues that affect the brewing sector within the European Union. The EP Beer Club believes that Beer is part of Europe’s heritage and tradition, and aims to support the future growth and stability of the brewing sector in the European Union.
About The Brewers of Europe
For more than a half century The Brewers of Europe has been the Brussels-based voice of the European brewing sector towards the European institutions and international organisations. Founded in 1958, it has 28 members, comprising 24 national brewer associations from the EU, Croatia, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey.
http://www.brewersofeurope.org/
About the Danish Brewers’ Association
The Danish Brewers´ Association (Bryggeriforeningen) was founded in 1899 and, with its 45 member companies, brings together all of the major breweries and bottling plants in Denmark. The Danish Brewers´ Association owns part of The Scandinavian School of Brewing, one of the world´s leading institutions for the education of brewmasters.