FLEGT VPA PROCESSJohn Bazill
DG Environment
European Commission

Scoping•

In some cases specific studies can be useful tofacilitate an informed decision eg• Details of forest product trade flows• Stakeholder mapping• Impact assessment•

On EU side identification of potential lead Member
State that will work with the Commission (wherepossible)Outline•

Information•

Scoping•

Decision to open negotiations•

Negotiation•

Signature and ratification•

Implementation•

FLEGT Licensing system operational

Information•“V” of VPA•

Usually informal expression of interest fromcountry•Briefing meetings EUDel, DEVCO or ENV, EFI; EFI
Briefing Notes, EU NGOs, private sector•

Describe process but try to avoid being too
prescriptive on content•

Information to as many stakeholder groups aspossible, not just govt.

Decision to open negotiations•Different forms• Meeting and joint press release: Minister andCommissioner• Letter to Head of Delegation• Memorandum of Understanding•

ENV or DEVCO lead

Negotiation•

Different levels• Senior Officials Meeting• Technical Working Group• Joint Expert Meetings•

Mainly in partner country but some sessions
should take place in Brussels

Negotiation•Negotiation team: partner country• EU can encourage but ultimately thecomposition of the team is up to the govt
• Aim for a team including representatives ofdifferent Ministries concerned, NGOs, private
sector federations. In Liberia community
representatives were also nominated.

• Structures for reporting and consensus building
between stakeholder groups• Good facilitators invaluable

Negotiation•

Negotiation team: EU• European Commission has a formal Council tomandate to negotiate for the EU• Member States invited in-country and inBrussels, generally one or two take a moredetailed interest• Commission reports on progress to Council WG
on Forests• Ad-hoc FLEGT group for more detailed coordn• EFI experts provide technical advice• No NGOs or private sector in EU team!

Negotiation•

Key issues can include• Definition of legal timber• Description future Timber Legality Assurance
System• Structures for reporting, independent
monitoring and governance of the VPA• Indication of reforms that will be made• Soft references to development cooperation• EU market incentives often sought…

Negotiation•

Key issues can include• Definition of legal timber• Description future Timber Legality Assurance
System• Structures for reporting, independent
monitoring and management• Indication of reforms that will be made• Soft references to development cooperation

Signature and ratification•

Trade legal base: signature and ratification only
done at EU level – no MS ratification•

Initialling•

Legal scrubbing•

Commission proposal for signature•

Approval by Council and signature (photo op)•European Parliament consent•

Ratification•

Publication in OJ•

Interim body for coordination EU- partner countryImplementation•

Often a loss of momentum after negotiations•

EU or MS programming of cooperation can lagbehind•

Try to keep momentum and focus onimplementation•

Development of IT systems has proved difficult•

Some technical assistance possible from EFI
FLEGT Facility•

Greater role of Delegation vis a vis HQ

Implementation•

Work also underway on EU side to haveprocedures in place and penalties established•Electronic FLEGT licenses•

Independent Market Monitor

FLEGT Licensing Scheme Operational•

Independent assessment of Timber Legality
Assurance System (ToRs in VPA)

•Assuming report positive – decision to go “live” inJoint Implementation Cttee with proposed date•EU side: FLEGT Regulation Annexes must be
amended through a formal procedure•

Annual reports

Recap• Information• Scoping• Decision to open negotiations• Negotiation• Signature and ratification• Implementation• FLEGT Licensing system operational