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

The European Parliament adopted, by 583 votes to 78, with 8 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the termination of the 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).

Parliament gave its consent to the termination of the agreement.

The Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and timber products to the European Union (FLEGT) was signed on 6 October 2010. The VPA entered into force on 1 December 2011 for a period of seven years, tacitly renewable for periods of the same duration, unless a party notifies its intention not to renew the VPA at least twelve months before the expiry of the current period.

The Republic of Cameroon has not been able to fulfil its obligations under the VPA, namely with regard to the progress made in establishing the FLEGT licensing scheme, which aims to verify and certify, by means of a FLEGT licence, that timber and derived products exported to the Union are produced or acquired legally.

The draft Council decision aims to approve, on behalf of the Union, the termination of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) 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). The VPA will cease to apply no later than twelve months after the date of notification to the Republic of Cameroon.

In parallel, Parliament adopted a non-legislative resolution on the draft Council decision.