International Tropical Timber Agreement, 2006

PURPOSE: to conclude the 2006 International Tropical Timber Agreement on behalf of the EU.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision. .

BACKGROUND: on 27 January 2006 the negotiating conference established under the aegis of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) approved the text of the 2006 International Tropical Timber Agreement ("the 2006 Agreement"). The 2006 Agreement has been open for signature since 3 April 2006 and will remain so until one month after its final entry into force.

The objectives of the 2006 Agreement are consistent with both the common commercial policy and the environmental policy.

The Community signed the 2006 Agreement on 2 November 2007. All Member States have expressed their intention to ratify it.

The 2006 Agreement should now be approved on behalf of the EU and particularly following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty on 1 November 2009.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was undertaken.

LEGAL BASIS: Articles 192 and 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) read in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) thereof.

CONTENT: this Decision provides that the 2006 International Tropical Timber Agreement is approved on behalf of the Union. For the content of the 2006 Agreement, please see the summary of the initial proposal dated 8/07/2007.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: as the compulsory contributions by the consumer members of the International Tropical Timber Organisation are assessed primarily in terms of the volume of tropical timber they import, the Union will contribute to the Administrative Account of the International Tropical Timber Organisation, once the 2006 Agreement enters into force, while Member States, as well as the Union, will be able to make voluntary financial contributions to the planned actions via the voluntary contribution accounts of the Organisation.