EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/124

(2004/C 88 E/0132)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2988/03

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) and Jan Dhaene (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(9 October 2003)

Subject: Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Action Plan

On 21 May 2003, the Commission published the FLEGT Action Plan. Various NGOs involved with this issue, as well as a number of Member States which have taken the lead in the worldwide campaign to stop illegal logging, regard that document as an important step forward and as a point of departure for further legislative activity.

However, after the document (1) had been published, nothing more was heard, and we have the impression that the Commission took no further measures for the implementation of the Action Plan.

What objectives does the Commission want to attain, and within what timescale, in order to implement the FLEGT Action Plan? Within that timescale, what are the key activities between now and June 2004?

Which DG will be responsible for the implementation of the Action Plan, and what resources are available for that purpose?

Is the Commission planning further legislation in connection with the problems addressed by FLEGT?

Illegal logging is a fairly significant problem in the accession countries as well. Is the Commission planning to take specific measures with a view to solving the problem in those countries, both before and after accession?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(5 December 2003)

The Commission has worked to ensure swift follow-up to the EU Action Plan for Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT). Council Conclusions were adopted at the Agriculture Council on 13 October 2003. The Commission still awaits a response from the Parliament.

Wide stakeholder consultations have been initiated, including detailed contacts with Member States, nongovernment organisations and European wood industries. Contacts have also been initiated with potential partner countries in major timber-producing regions of the world, with encouraging results. Discussions with Indonesia are in a particularly advanced stage.

To facilitate engagement with Africa, the Commission also recently provided a EUR 500 000 grant to support the Africa Ministerial Conference for Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (AFLEG), at which more than 30 African nations set out their firm commitment to combat illegal logging.

To answer the additional specific points raised in the question:

1. Implementation will be led by the Development and Environment Directorates General, in close association with other Directorates General, notably External Relations, Trade, the Europe Aid Cooperation Office, Taxation and Customs Union, Enterprise and Internal Market. Initially, supporting resources will be made available from the tropical forest budget line. Funds are also available from certain Country and Regional Strategies. The Commission will propose to introduce forest sector governance into Country Strategy Papers in the course of the mid-term review in countries where this issue is a priority.

2. The Commission intends to submit a proposal for a Regulation in 2004 to implement the Action Plan. This Regulation would provide the basis for the voluntary partnership scheme to control illegal timber exports. Dialogue and consultations have been initiated with wood-producing countries, and these will continue with a view to forming the partnership agreements required to support implementation. No further legislation is currently planned in connection with the problems addressed by the FLEGT Action Plan. However, a study of potential additional legislative options will be launched in the near future and this area will be looked at again in the light of the results of this work.

3. The accession countries lie outside the scope of the Action Plan. The Commission does not intend to take specific measures on illegal logging before the accession countries join the Union, but rather to develop a strategy based on their future participation within the EU Single Market. The Commission will participate in the work of the Ministerial Conferences for the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE) on this subject, including an assessment of the extent of the problem in Europe, to be carried out in 2004.

(1) COM(2003) 251.