Annexes to COM(2021)706 - Making available on the Union market as well as export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation

Please note

This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.

Agreements of the timber sector) to tackle EU-driven deforestation.

1.5.4.Compatibility with the Multiannual Financial Framework and possible synergies with other appropriate instruments

The European Union has approved a major recovery plan based on a reinforced long term budget for the next Multiannual Financial Framework and a new recovery instrument, Next Generation EU.

The initiative falls under the umbrella of the European Green Deal, which guides the EU's recovery strategy. It aims to make te EU climate-neutral by 2050 and to curb biodiversity loss. This includes the objective of promoting products and value chains that do not involve deforestation and forest degradation. It also advocates for more sustainable food supply chains and for the EU to set new standards for sustainable growth and use its economic weight to shape international standards that are in line with EU environmental and climate ambitions. The initiative is also part of the priorities set out in the Biodiversity strategy for 2030 and the Farm to Fork Strategy.

The initiative falls under Heading 3 (Natural Resources and the Environment), Title 9 (Environment and Climate Action) of the Multiannual Financial Framework. As detailed below, the implementation of this piece of legislation will require additional human resources and also some supporting expenditure. The supporting expenditure will be covered by the EU programme for the environment and climate action (LIFE) 2021–2027.

1.5.5.Assessment of the different available financing options, including scope for redeployment

The implementation of the Regulation will result in a large and diverse number of economic sectors falling under the scope of the Regulation, which will necessitate additional human resources, procurement resources for external contractors and administrative arrangements between Commission services.

Five additional FTEs within DG ENV will be needed to implement the Regulation, including international cooperation. Two additional FTEs within DG INTPA focusing on cooperation and development as well as 1 additional FTEs for TAXUD are needed to implement the Regulation, in particular obligations related to customs.

The needs are based on calculations of the resources assigned to the legislative tools aimed at fighting illegal logging (EUTR and FLEGT Regulation), the former of which will be replaced by the proposed initiative. The current available staff in DG ENV are 3.25 AD + 1 AST + 1 Free SND + 0.5 FTE of a contract agent. This covers: a) Implementing, monitoring and reviewing two EU regulations (EUTR and FLEGT Regulation); b) negotiating and implementing Voluntary Partnership Agreements with five countries (Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Malaysia) and cooperating with other producing and consuming countries, including a permanent cooperation structure with China; c) representing the EU in multilateral fora: FAO, United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) and the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO); d) implementing the additional actions foreseen in the Commission Communication on ‘Stepping up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World's Forests. 55

The new proposal will not only integrate existing EU legislation, but also significantly expand the scope of actions and the complexity of implementation, which entails the need for new resources. The new proposal will involve expanding the scope from one commodity (wood) to six (adding beef, palm oil, soy, cocoa and coffee) and their derived products, and it will expand its coverage to go beyond legality and include sustainability. This, in turn, is expected to increase the value of the economic sectors concerned as well as the number of stakeholders and third countries directly and strongly affected by the Regulation. There will be more Expert Group meetings (from five to six) and more members of the group (from only member states to include stakeholders and third countries.) There will be a new information system (see below), in addition to the one dedicated to the FLEGT Regulation. The country benchmarking system (see below) is expected to involve closer cooperation with dozens of countries. The political visibility and sensitiveness of the Regulation will increase in comparison with the previous situation covering only wood, as it will affect sectors that are essential for the economies of particular countries (e.g. cocoa in Ivory Coast and Ghana; palm oil in Indonesia and Malaysia; soy and cattle in Brazil and Argentina) requiring intensified bilateral engagement including at expert level. The representation duties of DG ENV in international fora will increase, too. The reporting duties of member states will increase in line with the greater scope of commodities and the value of economic sectors involved. The transition to the new Regulation, the repeal of the EUTR and the adaptation of the FLEGT Regulation will involve additional tasks over the first five years of operation.

All these new activities and tasks will substantially increase DG ENV’s workload. The higher political and economic weight of the new Regulation will require more preparation and more analytical work to manage more interactions — at both political and working level — with other Commission departments, with the Council and the European Parliament, with stakeholders, with third countries and with international organisations. The additional reporting tasks carried out by and the added tools (the information system and the benchmarking system) managed by DG ENV will require additional oversight by DG ENV. Streamlining and improving implementation in comparison with the EUTR and FLEGT Regulations — which, as reflected in the Fitness Check, had a number of shortcomings —, taking also into account the bigger scope, will demand more resources from DG ENV dedicated to monitoring implementation in member states.

All these tasks require a high capacity of political judgement, policy knowledge, analytical skills, independence and resilience that can only be delivered by AD officials. The complex supply chains of the commodities involved, and the geographical differences across the globe, would make it advisable to aim at a certain degree of specialisation within DG ENV’s team in charge of the implementation. This can be done by commodity, by region or by task, but it will require the additional staffing resources as set out above. Outsourcing will be used as far as possible (see below), but this also requires oversight. In addition, there are core tasks that involve a high degree of political sensitivity and need to be carried out by the Commission.

Resource needs will increase for DG ENV, DG INTPA and DG TAXUD. DG ENV will have to work on the complex exercise of country benchmarking (both technically and diplomatically), while as at the same time continuing the implementation of previous legal obligations in this new context, including international cooperation (constant work with partner countries, both consumer and producing, crucial to avoid leakage). DG INTPA will in particular focus on new cooperation programs under the frame of Forest Partnerships, which will be aimed, among other goals, at helping producing countries comply with the Regulation. The Forest Partnerships will be offered to all relevant countries, including those currently engaged in Voluntary Partnership Agreements negotiations or implementation. DG TAXUD will work on the general policy implementation of the Regulation as well as preparatory work and drafting of secondary legislation in relation to relevant commodities and products entering or leaving the Union market. These activities will require the additional human resources for DG ENV, DG INTPA and DG TAXUD.

Before the entry into force and in the first five years of operation, there will also be a need for procurement budget for external contractors that will be supporting the first review of the product scope, the first evaluation of the regulation and the general implementation of the regulation. The estimated budget for these three contracts over the first five years is EUR 3,050,000. This estimate is based on previous procurement contracts with the same characteristics.

There is also a need for developing the due diligence registry, a database linking customs authorities of member states, other competent authorities of member states and the Commission, and storing and facilitating information supplied by operators (essentially their registration and their self-declarations.) This could be done either via an external contractor or with an administrative arrangement with Commission services. DG ENV has facilitated a budget estimate of EUR 1.5 million for five years to create and maintain the database with the required functionalities. In addition, TAXUD has filed a budget of 950,000 over the first five years of operation for the IT work necessary to adapt the custom systems to the changes required by the Regulation. IT development and related procurement choices will be subject to pre-approval by the European Commission Information Technology and Cybersecurity Board.

As regards the creation and the operation of the country benchmarking, this could be done via an administrative arrangement or an external contract. A provisional budget of EUR 4,369,000 is foreseen for the first five years. This is nearly five times the amount contemplated in the Impact Assessment, which was calculated in terms of working hours. This is because the benchmarking foreseen in the Impact Assessment was a simplified version, which has been enlarged with new assessment criteria, as well as with increased cooperation duties with affected countries, in the final legal proposal. These new features are labour intensive – assessing the legislation and enforcement of legislation in every country is an ambitious endeavour – and will involve a much larger amount of working hours. The revamped amount has been calculated taking into account the experience of the country overviews of the EU Timber Regulation.


1.6.Duration and financial impact of the proposal/initiative

◻ limited duration

–◻    in effect from [DD/MM]YYYY to [DD/MM]YYYY

–◻    Financial impact from YYYY to YYYY for commitment appropriations and from YYYY to YYYY for payment appropriations.

☑ unlimited duration

–Implementation with a start-up period from 2023 to 2027,

–followed by full-scale operation.

1.7.Management mode(s) planned 56  

☑ Direct management by the Commission

–☑ by its departments, including by its staff in the Union delegations;

–◻    by the executive agencies

◻ Shared management with the Member States

◻ Indirect management by entrusting budget implementation tasks to:

–◻ third countries or the bodies they have designated;

–◻ international organisations and their agencies (to be specified);

–◻ the EIB and the European Investment Fund;

–◻ bodies referred to in Articles 70 and 71 of the Financial Regulation;

–◻ public law bodies;

–◻ bodies governed by private law with a public service mission to the extent that they are provided with adequate financial guarantees;

–◻ bodies governed by the private law of a Member State that are entrusted with the implementation of a public-private partnership and that are provided with adequate financial guarantees;

–◻ persons entrusted with the implementation of specific actions in the CFSP pursuant to Title V of the TEU, and identified in the relevant basic act.

–If more than one management mode is indicated, please provide details in the ‘Comments’ section.

Comments


2. MANAGEMENT MEASURES

2.1.Monitoring and reporting rules

Specify frequency and conditions.

The LFS concerns staff expenditure, procurement, and possibly adminstrative arrangements. Standard rules for this type of expenditures apply

2.2.Management and control system(s)

2.2.1.Justification of the management mode(s), the funding implementation mechanism(s), the payment modalities and the control strategy proposed

The management mode for the initiative is direct management by the Commission. The Commission will be assisted by an Expert Group with member states representatives and stakeholders: The Commission Expert Group/Multi-Stakeholder Platform on Protecting and Restoring the World’s Forests. The Commission will also be assisted by a Committee.

Overall, the initiative involves staff expenditure, procurement and possibly administrative arrangements. Standard rules for this type of expenditure apply.

2.2.2.Information concerning the risks identified and the internal control system(s) set up to mitigate them

Overall, the initiative involves staff expenditure, procurement and possibly administrative arrangements. Standard rules for this type of expenditure apply.

2.2.3.Estimation and justification of the cost-effectiveness of the controls (ratio of "control costs ÷ value of the related funds managed"), and assessment of the expected levels of risk of error (at payment & at closure)

Overall, the initiative involves staff expenditure, procurement and possibly administrative arrangements. Standard rules for this type of expenditure apply.

2.3.Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities

Specify existing or envisaged prevention and protection measures, e.g. from the Anti-Fraud Strategy.

Overall, the initiative involves staff expenditure, procurement and possibly administrative arrangements. Standard rules for this type of expenditure apply.

3. ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE

3.1.Heading(s) of the multiannual financial framework and expenditure budget line(s) affected

·Existing budget lines

In order of multiannual financial framework headings and budget lines.

Heading of multiannual financial frameworkBudget lineType of expenditureContribution
NumberDiff./Non-diff. 57from EFTA countries 58

from candidate countries 59

from third countrieswithin the meaning of Article 21(2)(b) of the Financial Regulation
309 02 01 - ​Nature and biodiversityDiff.YESNONONO
720.01.02.01 - Remuneration and allowancesNon-diff.NONONONO
720 02 06 02 - Conference and meeting costsNon-diff.NONONONO

3.2.Estimated financial impact of the proposal on appropriations 

3.2.1.Summary of estimated impact on operational appropriations

–◻    The proposal/initiative does not require the use of operational appropriations

–☑    The proposal/initiative requires the use of operational appropriations, as explained below:

EUR million (to three decimal places)

Heading of multiannual financial framework3Natural Resources and Environment

DG: ENVYear

2022
Year

2023
Year

2024
Year

2025
Year

2026
Year

2027
TOTAL (2022-2027)
• Operational appropriations
09 02 01 - ​Nature and biodiversityCommitments(1a)0.5001.7891.6801.6101.8901.4508.919
Payments(2a)0.5001.7891.6801.6101.8901.4508.919
Appropriations of an administrative nature financed from the envelope of specific programmes 60  

Budget line(3)
TOTAL appropriations
for DG ENV
Commitments=1a+1b +30.5001.7891.6801.6101.8901.4508.919
Payments=2a+2b

+3
0.5001.7891.6801.6101.8901.4508.919

DG: TAXUDYear

2022
Year

2023
Year

2024
Year

2025
Year

2026
Year

2027
TOTAL (2022-2027)
• Operational appropriations
09 02 01 - ​Nature and biodiversityCommitments(1a)-0.1500.3000.2500.1250.1250.950
Payments(2a)-0.1500.3000.2500.1250.1250.950
Appropriations of an administrative nature financed from the envelope of specific programmes 61  

Budget line(3)
TOTAL appropriations

for DG TAXUD
Commitments=1a+1b +3-0.1500.3000.2500.1250.1250.950
Payments=2a+2b

+3
-0.1500.3000.2500.1250.1250.950


• TOTAL operational appropriations
Commitments(4)
Payments(5)
• TOTAL appropriations of an administrative nature financed from the envelope for specific programmes
(6)
TOTAL appropriations

under HEADING 3

of the multiannual financial framework
Commitments=4+ 60.5001.9391.9801.8602.0151.5759.869
Payments=5+ 60.5001.9391.9801.8602.0151.5759.869


The amount reported above will be needed to support various implementation tasks related to the legislative provisions that will be carried out by DG ENV.

The procured activities include the commission of a study supporting the first review of the product scope (budgeted in 2022), a study supporting the first evaluation of the regulation (budgeted in 2026) and a support contract for the general implementation of the regulation (budgeted evenly along the first five years of operation.)

In addition, two other activities that could be developped either via an external contract or administrative arrangements with Commission services have been provisionally included in this category. These are the development and operation of the information system and the development and operation of the country benchmarking system. Both activities have been budgeted along the first five years of operation.

Finally, some amounts are included to cover the IT developments and maintencance of the electronic interfaces between national customs systems and the Information System as regards exchanges of information between customs authorities and competent authorities. These are included as part of the overall cost of the information system.

All costs except HR and Administrative
TasksResources202220232024202520262027TOTAL
General implementationGeneral support contract-0.4500.4500.4500.4500.4502.250
Benchmarking systemSupport contract or administrative arrangement-1.0090.8400.8400.8400.8404.369
“Register” Information System (ENV+TAXUD)Support contract or administrative arrangement-0.4800.6900.5700.4250.2852.450
Review product scopeImpact assessment support contract0.500-----0.500
First evaluationEvaluation support contract----0.300-0.300
0.5001.9391.9801.8602.0151.5759.869


Heading of multiannual financial framework
7‘Administrative expenditure’

This section should be filled in using the 'budget data of an administrative nature' to be firstly introduced in the Annex to the Legislative Financial Statement (Annex V to the internal rules), which is uploaded to DECIDE for interservice consultation purposes.

EUR million (to three decimal places)

Year

2022
Year

2023
Year

2024
Year

2025
Year

2026
Year

2027
TOTAL

(2022-2027)
DG: ENV
• Human resources
-0.7600.7600.7600.7600.7603.800
• Other administrative expenditure 62
-0.1140.1140.1140.1140.1140.570
TOTAL DG ENVAppropriations-0.8740.8740.8740.8740.8744.370

Year

2022
Year

2023
Year

2024
Year

2025
Year

2026
Year

2027
TOTAL

(2022-2027)
DG: INTPA
• Human resources
-0.3040.3040.3040.3040.3041.520
• Other administrative expenditure
-------
TOTAL DG INTPAAppropriations-0.3040.3040.3040.3040.3041.520

Year

2022
Year

2023
Year

2024
Year

2025
Year

2026
Year

2027
TOTAL

(2022-2027)
DG: TAXUD
• Human resources
-0.1520.1520. 52
0.1520.1520.760
• Other administrative expenditure
-------
TOTAL DG TAXUDAppropriations-0.1520.1520.1520.1520.1520.760

TOTAL appropriations

under HEADING 7

of the multiannual financial framework
(Total commitments = Total payments)-1.3301.3301.3301.3301.3306.650

EUR million (to three decimal places)

Year

2022
Year

2023
Year

2024
Year

2025
Year

2026
Year

2027
TOTAL

(2022-2027)
TOTAL appropriations under HEADINGS 1 to 7 of the multiannual financial framework Commitments0.5003.2693.3103.1903.3452.90516.519
Payments0.5003.2693.3103.1903.3452.90516.519


3.2.2.Estimated output funded with operational appropriations

Commitment appropriations in EUR million (to three decimal places)

Indicate objectives and outputs



Year

N
Year

N+1
Year

N+2
Year

N+3
Enter as many years as necessary to show the duration of the impact (see point 1.6)TOTAL
OUTPUTS
Type 63

Average costNoCostNoCostNoCostNoCostNoCostNoCostNoCostTotal NoTotal cost
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE No 1 64
- Output
- Output
- Output
Subtotal for specific objective No 1
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE No 2 ...
- Output
Subtotal for specific objective No 2
TOTALS

3.2.3.Summary of estimated impact on administrative appropriations

–◻    The proposal/initiative does not require the use of appropriations of an administrative nature

–☑    The proposal/initiative requires the use of appropriations of an administrative nature, as explained below:

EUR million (to three decimal places)

Year

2022
Year

2023
Year

2024
Year

2025
Year

2026
Year

2027
TOTAL

(2023-2027)

HEADING 7 of the multiannual financial framework
Human resources-1.2161.2161.2161.2161.2166.080
Other administrative expenditure-0.1140.1140.1140.1140.1140.570
Subtotal HEADING 7 of the multiannual financial framework-1.3301.3301.3301.3301.3306.650

Outside HEADING 7 65  of the multiannual financial framework
Human resources
Other expenditure of an administrative nature
Subtotal outside HEADING 7 of the multiannual financial framework

TOTAL-1.3301.3301.3301.3301.3306.650

The administrative appropriations required will be met by the appropriations which are already assigned to the management of the action and/or which have been redeployed, together if necessary with any additional allocation which may be granted to the managing DG under the annual allocation procedure and in the light of existing budgetary constraints.


3.2.3.1.Estimated requirements of human resources

–◻    The proposal/initiative does not require the use of human resources.

–☑    The proposal/initiative requires the use of human resources, as explained below:

Estimate to be expressed in full time equivalent units

Year

2022
Year

2023
Year

2024
Year

2025
Year

2026
Year

2027
• Establishment plan posts (officials and temporary staff)
20 01 02 01 (Headquarters and Commission’s Representation Offices)0.08.08.08.08.08.0
20 01 02 03 (Delegations)
01 01 01 01 (Indirect research)
01 01 01 11 (Direct research)
Other budget lines (specify)
• External staff (in Full Time Equivalent unit: FTE) 66

20 02 01 (AC, END, INT from the ‘global envelope’)
20 02 03 (AC, AL, END, INT and JPD in the delegations)
XX 01 xx yy zz 67

- at Headquarters

- in Delegations
01 01 01 02 (AC, END, INT - Indirect research)
01 01 01 12 (AC, END, INT - Direct research)
Other budget lines (specify)
TOTAL0.08.08.08.08.08.0

XX is the policy area or budget title concerned.

The human resources required will be met by staff from the DGs who are already assigned to management of the action and/or have been redeployed within the DGs, together if necessary with any additional allocation which may be granted to the managing DG under the annual allocation procedure and in the light of budgetary constraints.

Description of tasks to be carried out:

Officials and temporary staffFor DG ENV, 5 AD posts are needed for the general implementation of the regulation, inlcuding international cooperation, as well as preparatory work and drafting of secondary legislation according to the deadlines proposed in the regulation.

For DG INTPA, 2 AD posts are needed to cope with cooperation and development related to the Regulation, in particular the setting up of Forest Partnerships.

For DG TAXUD, 1 AD post is needed for the general policy implementation of the Regulation, preparatory work and drafting of secondary legislation in relation to relevant commodities and products entering or leaving the Union market, as well as the needs of the implementation of the interface under the Article 26.
External staffn/a

3.2.4.Compatibility with the current multiannual financial framework

The proposal/initiative:

–☑    can be fully financed through redeployment within the relevant heading of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

–The costs foreseen under the budget line 09 02 01 will be borne by the LIFE programme and will be planned under the annual management plan exercises of DG ENV. The human resources required shall be preferably met by an additional allocation under the annual allocation procedure of human resources.

–◻    requires use of the unallocated margin under the relevant heading of the MFF and/or use of the special instruments as defined in the MFF Regulation.

Explain what is required, specifying the headings and budget lines concerned, the corresponding amounts, and the instruments proposed to be used.

–◻    requires a revision of the MFF.

Explain what is required, specifying the headings and budget lines concerned and the corresponding amounts.

3.2.5.Third-party contributions

The proposal/initiative:

–☑    does not provide for co-financing by third parties

–◻    provides for the co-financing by third parties estimated below:

Appropriations in EUR million (to three decimal places)

Year

N 68
Year

N+1
Year

N+2
Year

N+3
Enter as many years as necessary to show the duration of the impact (see point 1.6)Total
Specify the co-financing body 
TOTAL appropriations co-financed


3.3.Estimated impact on revenue

–☑    The proposal/initiative has no financial impact on revenue.

–◻    The proposal/initiative has the following financial impact:

–◻    on own resources

–◻    on other revenue

–please indicate, if the revenue is assigned to expenditure lines ◻    

EUR million (to three decimal places)

Budget revenue line:Appropriations available for the current financial yearImpact of the proposal/initiative 69
Year

N
Year

N+1
Year

N+2
Year

N+3
Enter as many years as necessary to show the duration of the impact (see point 1.6)
Article ………….

For assigned revenue, specify the budget expenditure line(s) affected.


Other remarks (e.g. method/formula used for calculating the impact on revenue or any other information).


(1) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European, Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Stepping up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World’s Forests, COM/2019/352 final.
(2) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European, Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, The European Green Deal, COM/2019/640 final.
(3) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European, Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 Bringing nature back into our lives, COM/2020/380 final.
(4) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European, Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, A Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system, COM/2020/381 final.
(5) Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament - Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) - Proposal for an EU Action Plan (COM(2003) 251 final).
(6) Council Regulation (EC) No 2173/2005 of 20 December 2005 on the establishment of a FLEGT licensing scheme for imports of timber into the European Community
(7) Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2010 laying down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the market.
(8) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Council, The European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, A long-term Vision for the EU's Rural Areas - Towards stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous rural areas by 2040, COM (2021) 345 final.
(9) Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, (OJ L 328/82 of 21.12.2018, p. 82–209).
(10) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/807 of 13 March 2019 supplementing Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the determination of high indirect land-use change-risk feedstock for which a significant expansion of the production area into land with high carbon stock is observed and the certification of low indirect land-use change-risk biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels (OJ L 133, 21.5.2019, p. 1–7).
(11) Conclusions of the Council and of the Governments of the Member States sitting in the Council on the Communication on Stepping Up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World’s Forests - Council conclusions (15151/19 of 16 December 2019)
(12) Regulation (EU) 2019/1010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on the alignment of reporting obligations  in the field of legislation related to the environment, and amending Regulations (EC) No 166/2006 and (EU) No 995/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Directives 2002/49/EC, 2004/35/EC, 2007/2/EC, 2009/147/EC and 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Regulations (EC) No 338/97 and (EC) No 2173/2005, and Council Directive 86/278/EEC (OJ L170/126 of 25.6.2019).
(13) ECA Special Report 21/2021: “EU funding for biodiversity and climate change in EU forests: positive but limited results”. See notably paragraph 36, where the Court: “Reporting under the Timber Regulation does not provide the information with which the Commission can analyse the quality of Member States’ monitoring activity, the national rules defining illegal logging or the procedures used for checks. Nor does it require Member States to substantiate their replies with supporting documents that would allow it to verify the accuracy or completeness of the information”.
(14) See Recommendations 2.a: “The Commission should: (a) assess the potential for making legislative proposals with the aim of strengthening its review of Member State checks on the Timber Regulation”.
(15) Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on market surveillance and compliance of products and amending Directive 2004/42/EC and Regulations (EC) No 765/2008 and (EU) No 305/2011 (OJ l 169/1 of 25.6.2019).
(16) OJ C , , p. .
(17) OJ C , , p. .
(18) Commission Communication of 27 July 2019 ’Stepping up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World’s Forests’, COM(2019) 352 final.
(19) FAO, Global Forest Resource Assessment 2020, p. XII, https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/ca9825en.
(20) IPCC, Climate Change and Land: an IPCC special report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems, https://www.ipcc.ch/srccl/.
(21) Forest Europe - Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, State of Europe’s Forests 2020, https://foresteurope.org/state-europes-forests-2020/.
(22) European Environment Agency, State of the Environment 2020, https://www.eea.europa.eu/soer/publications/soer-2020.
(23) COM(2019) 352 final.
(24) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, The European Council, The Council, The European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, The European Green Deal, COM(2019) 640 final.
(25) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, The European Council, The Council, The European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 Bringing nature back into our lives, COM/2020/380 final.
(26) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Council, The European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, A Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system, COM/2020/381 final.
(27) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, The European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, A new EU Forest Strategy: for forests and the forest-based sector, COM(2013) 659 final.
(28) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Pathway to a Healthy Planet for All EU Action Plan: ‘Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil’, COM/2021/400 final.
(29) e.g. Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Council, The European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, A long-term Vision for the EU's Rural Areas - Towards stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous rural areas by 2040, COM (2021) 345 final.
(30) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, The European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, A sustainable bioeconomy for Europe, Strengthening the connection between economy, society and the environment: updated bioeconomy strategy, Updated Bioeconomy Strategy, COM(2018) 273 final.
(31) Council conclusions on the Communication on Stepping Up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World’s Forests (16 December 2019) 15151/19. Available at https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/41860/st15151-en19.pdf.
(32) European Parliament resolution of 22 October 2020 with recommendations to the Commission on an EU legal framework to halt and reverse EU-driven global deforestation (2020/2006(INL) Available at https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2020-0285_EN.html .
(33) Ratified by the EU on 5 October 2016, and entered into force on 4 November 2016.
(34) FAO new  Global Remote Sensing Survey , 6 Nov. 2021 - FAO Remote Sensing Survey reveals tropical rainforests under pressure as agricultural expansion drives global deforestation .
(35) https://unfccc.int/news/new-york-declaration-on-forests.
(36) https://www.un.org/esa/forests/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/UNSPF_AdvUnedited.pdf.
(37) https://ukcop26.org/glasgow-leaders-declaration-on-forests-and-land-use/.
(38) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European, Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Trade Policy Review - An Open, Sustainable and Assertive Trade Policy, COM(2021) 66 final, 18 February 2021.
(39) COM(2019) 352 final.
(40) OJ L 295, 12.11.2010, p. 23.
(41) OJ L 347, 30.12.2005, p. 1.
(42) https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/11630-Illegal-logging-evaluation-of-EU-rules-fitness-check-_en
(43) https://www.forest-trends.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Illicit-Harvest-Complicit-Goods_rev.pdf.
(44) Pendrill F., Persson U. M., Kastner, T. 2020.
(45) Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) (OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 1).
(46) Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and Decision No 1247/2002/EC (OJ L 295, 21.11.2018, p. 39).
(47) Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 October 2013 laying down the Union Customs Code (OJ L 269 10.10.2013, p. 1).
(48) Directive 2013/34/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on the annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements and related reports of certain types of undertakings, amending Directive 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directives 78/660/EEC and 83/349/EEC Text with EEA relevance (OJ L 182, 29.6.2013, p. 19–76).
(49) Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (OJ L 328/82, 21.12.2018, p. 82–209).
(50) Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on market surveillance and compliance of products and amending Directive 2004/42/EC and Regulations (EC) No 765/2008 and (EU) No 305/2011.
(51) Directive (EU) 2019/1024 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on open data and the re-use of public sector information (OJ L 172, 26.6.2019, p. 56–83).
(52) Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers.
(53) As defined in Article 3(1) of Directive 2013/34/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on the annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements and related reports of certain types of undertakings, amending Directive 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directives 78/660/EEC and 83/349/EEC.
(54)

   As referred to in Article 58(2)(a) or (b) of the Financial Regulation.

(55)

   https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1565272554103&uri=CELEX:52019DC0352

(56) Details of management modes and references to the Financial Regulation may be found on the BudgWeb site: https://myintracomm.ec.europa.eu/budgweb/EN/man/budgmanag/Pages/budgmanag.aspx  
(57)

   Diff. = Differentiated appropriations / Non-diff. = Non-differentiated appropriations

(58)

   EFTA: European Free Trade Association

(59)

   Candidate countries and, where applicable, potential candidates from the Western Balkans

(60)

   Technical and/or administrative assistance and expenditure in support of the implementation of EU programmes and/or actions (former ‘BA’ lines), indirect research, direct research.

(61) Technical and/or administrative assistance and expenditure in support of the implementation of EU programmes and/or actions (former ‘BA’ lines), indirect research, direct research.
(62) Article 34 envisages the establishment of a new Committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. Furthermore, the Deforestation Platform expert group that is existing already, but has not decision powers, will assist the Committee.
(63)

   Outputs are products and services to be supplied (e.g.: number of student exchanges financed, number of km of roads built, etc.)

(64)

   As described in point 1.4.2. ‘Specific objective(s)…’

(65)

   Technical and/or administrative assistance and expenditure in support of the implementation of EU programmes and/or actions (former ‘BA’ lines), indirect research, direct research

(66)

   AC= Contract Staff; AL = Local Staff; END= Seconded National Expert; INT = agency staff; JPD= Junior Professionals in Delegations

(67)

   Sub-ceiling for external staff covered by operational appropriations (former ‘BA’ lines)

(68)

   Year N is the year in which implementation of the proposal/initiative starts. Please replace "N" by the expected first year of implementation (for instance: 2021). The same for the following years.

(69)

   As regards traditional own resources (customs duties, sugar levies), the amounts indicated must be net amounts, i.e. gross amounts after deduction of 20 % for collection costs.