EU/Cameroon Voluntary Partnership Agreement: forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the EU (FLEGT)

PURPOSE: to conclude a Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the EU and Cameroon on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the EU (FLEGT).

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: in May 2003 the European Commission adopted a communication entitled “Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) – proposal for an EU Action Plan” which called for measures to address illegal logging through the development of voluntary partnership agreements with timber-producing countries.

Council conclusions on that Action Plan were adopted in October 2003 and Parliament adopted a resolution on the subject on 11 July 2005.

It is against this background that it is now necessary to conclude, on behalf of the Union, the current voluntary partnership agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the European Union (FLEGT).

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried out.

LEGAL BASIS: first paragraphs of Article 207(3) and (4), in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a)(v) and Article 218(7) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

CONTENT: with this proposed decision, the voluntary partnership agreement between the Union and Cameroon on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) to the European Union is approved on behalf of the Union.

Measures are provided for in regard to the participation of European Commission representatives as members of the Union’s delegation in the Joint Implementation Council meetings and in meetings of the Agreement’s Joint Monitoring Committee.

The annexes to the agreement may be amended by the European Commission on behalf of the EU.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATION: this proposal has no implications for the EU budget.