Considerations on COM(2023)378 - Signing of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement with Côte d’Ivoire on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and timber products to the EU (FLEGT)

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dossier COM(2023)378 - Signing of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement with Côte d’Ivoire on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber ...
document COM(2023)378
date July 13, 2023
 
(1) In May 2003, the Commission adopted the Communication to the Council and the European Parliament Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT): proposal for an EU action plan6, which called for measures to address illegal logging by developing voluntary partnership agreements with timber-producing countries. Council conclusions on the action plan were adopted in October 20037 and a European Parliament resolution on the subject was adopted on 11 July 20058.

(2) On 5 December 2005, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with timber-producing countries on partnership agreements to implement the EU Action Plan for Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade.

(3) On 20 December 2005, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 2173/20059 which established a FLEGT licensing scheme for imports of timber into the Union from countries with which the Union has concluded voluntary partnership agreements.

(4) The negotiations with the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire in view of the conclusion of a Voluntary Partnership Agreement on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and timber products (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’), were successfully concluded by the initialling of the Agreement on 17 October 2022.

(5) Therefore, the Agreement should be signed on behalf of the European Union, subject to its conclusion at a later date.