EU/Guyana Voluntary Partnership Agreement: forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the EU

The European Parliament adopted by 619 votes to 2, with 25 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Co-operative Republic of Guyana on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union.

Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement.

The purpose of the Agreement, in line with the parties' shared commitment to the sustainable management of all types of forests, is to provide a legal framework to ensure that all imports into the EU of timber products covered by the agreement from Guyana have been legally produced and, in so doing, to promote trade in timber products.

The Agreement also provides a basis for dialogue and cooperation between the parties to facilitate and promote its full implementation and to strengthen forest law enforcement and governance.

In particular, the Agreement establishes a licencing scheme that verifies and confirms the legality of timber products exported to the EU and third countries, as well as timber sold domestically.

Parliament also adopted a non-legislative resolution on the draft decision.