By Tomáš Zdechovský and Hannes Heide, Co-Chairs, European Beer Group
Last week, the heart of Europe pulsed with Bavarian atmosphere as we joined fellow MEPs and friends at the Oktoberfest Brussels in the Cinquantenaire Park.
Beneath the tent’s massive canopy, MEPs from across the political spectrum and from all corners of Europe raised their glasses to drink together. To the sound of music, laughter and the clinking of steins, we were reminded that beer is more than a drink – it is a living expression of European culture, craftsmanship and community. Whatever your background, whatever your lifestyle, whatever your politics, you can break down barriers with beer. As we always say, beer brings people together.
From Munich to Brussels, from Prague to Vienna, beer connects Europeans in ways few other products can. The Oktoberfest Brussels, inspired by the Bavarian world-famous festival, brings that tradition into the EU’s capital – a fitting symbol of how Europe’s brewing heritage transcends borders. Brewing is a deeply European story: one of farmers, maltsters, brewers, publicans and consumers all linked through a value chain that supports millions of jobs and rural livelihoods.
That is why October could not be a better month to celebrate beer’s contribution to our shared European identity, and why we chose it for European Beer Month. We want to recognise beer’s role as a social and cultural bridge across the continent and its economic weight. At a time when Europe faces multiple challenges – economic, environmental and geopolitical – beer remains a force for cohesion and optimism. As co-chairs of the European Beer Group, we want to ensure that the EU recognises the positive contribution of beer. From agriculture and trade to packaging, labelling and public health, beer deserves a fair and balanced place on the policy agenda.
Standing together at the Oktoberfest Brussels, we saw what beer truly represents: a shared European joy, rooted in centuries of craftsmanship yet looking confidently to the future. As we raise our glasses, let’s ensure that we continue to celebrate the drink that brings us together. Because when Europe’s beer sector thrives, so does Europe itself.