EU Action Plan for Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade EU FLEGT Update Chatham House, London, 25 January 2007 25 January 2007

EU Action Plan for Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and TradeEU Action Plan for Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade

EU FLEGT UpdateEU FLEGT Update

Chatham House, London,Chatham House, London,

25 January 200725 January 2007


Recent developmentsRecent developments

FLEGT Partnership negotiations FLEGT Partnership negotiations Country level FLEGT consultations Country level FLEGT consultations EC development cooperation EC development cooperation Additional legislative options Additional legislative options

consultation consultation


FLEGT Partnership negotiationsFLEGT Partnership negotiations

Malaysia : 1Malaysia : 1stst session Jan 19 session Jan 19thth in Sarawak. in Sarawak. Ghana announced in December in Ghana announced in December in Brussels its ambition to conclude Brussels its ambition to conclude agreement by end of 2007agreement by end of 2007Indonesia the same in January 2007: first Indonesia the same in January 2007: first session planned for March.session planned for March.


Informal discussions on FLEGT Informal discussions on FLEGT partnershipspartnerships

Informal discussions and preparatory work on-Informal discussions and preparatory work on-going in Cameroon, Congo, Central African going in Cameroon, Congo, Central African Republic, Liberia, Gabon, Vietnam, Cote Republic, Liberia, Gabon, Vietnam, Cote d’Ivoire, Ecuadord’Ivoire, Ecuador

The enquiries and interest are growing……….The enquiries and interest are growing……….


Partnership AgreementsPartnership Agreements

Establish legality licensing for timber exports to EU. Establish legality licensing for timber exports to EU. Legality = appropriate laws of Legality = appropriate laws of partner countrypartner country

Will allow EU Customs to exclude timber if it does not Will allow EU Customs to exclude timber if it does not have a FLEGT license from the partner country. have a FLEGT license from the partner country.

Will include capacity-building measures and measures to Will include capacity-building measures and measures to mitigate negative impacts on poor peoplemitigate negative impacts on poor people

Apply to a limited range of product categories, but there is Apply to a limited range of product categories, but there is scope for partner countries to expand thisscope for partner countries to expand this


Building partnershipsBuilding partnershipsInformal consultations with civil society, govt, private sector, Informal consultations with civil society, govt, private sector, judiciary to introduce FLEGTjudiciary to introduce FLEGTFollowed by structured process to id governance challenges, Followed by structured process to id governance challenges, develop legality definition, identify gaps in regulatory systems, develop legality definition, identify gaps in regulatory systems, design COC and verification systems from forest to mill to port;design COC and verification systems from forest to mill to port; Formal negotiations will probably follow an agreed “roadmap” Formal negotiations will probably follow an agreed “roadmap” of issues to be addressed of issues to be addressed In In nono country will this be straightforward - the challenge- to country will this be straightforward - the challenge- to address thorny governance problems while supporting address thorny governance problems while supporting responsible traderesponsible trade


Assistance to improve governanceAssistance to improve governance

Improved control: systems to track and verify Improved control: systems to track and verify legal compliance legal compliance

Systems to better capture revenues and rents Systems to better capture revenues and rents Enhanced transparency Enhanced transparency Capacity building (of govt., civil society, Capacity building (of govt., civil society,

private sector)private sector) Policy and legal reformPolicy and legal reform Securing and maintaining market share Securing and maintaining market share


Financing VPA processesFinancing VPA processes

€€2.5 M multi-donor facility to support development of 2.5 M multi-donor facility to support development of VPAs with European Forest InstituteVPAs with European Forest Institute€€13.3 M FLEGT projects in 2006 budget line; €11.4 13.3 M FLEGT projects in 2006 budget line; €11.4 M for projects with indigenous peoples and forestsM for projects with indigenous peoples and forests€€10 million for VPAs in ACP countries under design10 million for VPAs in ACP countries under design€€34M in new thematic programme34M in new thematic programmeFLEGT a theme in EC country strategies with FLEGT a theme in EC country strategies with governance focus (2008-2013)governance focus (2008-2013)





Additional Options ConsultationsAdditional Options Consultations

Launched just before ChristmasLaunched just before Christmas Open until 05 March 2007Open until 05 March 2007 Inputs welcome - EU and non-EUInputs welcome - EU and non-EU Link: Link: www.ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/consultations/index_en.htmwww.ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/consultations/index_en.htm



Main options considered:Main options considered: FLEGT VPAsFLEGT VPAs Private sector actionsPrivate sector actions Ban on imports of illegally harvested timberBan on imports of illegally harvested timber Legislation on placing on the market of illegally Legislation on placing on the market of illegally

harvested timber. Sub-options:harvested timber. Sub-options: Prove illegalityProve illegality Show legality (universal licensing)Show legality (universal licensing)



Summary of consultation to be publishedSummary of consultation to be published Impact assessment studyImpact assessment study Internal discussionsInternal discussions Decision on what further measures – if anyDecision on what further measures – if any


Thank youThank you

For further information see: For further information see: http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/theme/forest/initiative/index_enhttp://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/theme/forest/initiative/index_en.htm.htm

Contacts: Contacts: [email protected]@ec.europa.eu

[email protected]@[email protected]@ec.europa.eu

Documents

EU Action Plan for Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade EU FLEGT Update Chatham House, London, 25 January 2007 25 January 2007