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

PURPOSE: the conclusion of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Indonesia on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products (FLEGT).

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2014/284/EU on the conclusion of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Indonesia on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union.

BACKGROUND: in May 2003, the European Commission published an EU Action Plan which called for measures to address illegal logging by developing 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.

In accordance with Council Decision 2013/486/EU, the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Indonesia on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union was signed on 30 September 2013, subject to its conclusion.

It is now appropriate to approve the agreement on behalf of the European Union.

CONTENT: by means of this decision, the Council approves, on behalf of the European Union, with the consent of the European Parliament, the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Indonesia on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products (FLEGT).

It provides for:

·         the control of the supply chain;

·         the framework for monitoring legal compliance; and

·         the requirements for the independent auditing of the system.

These points are set out in annexes to the Agreement, which provide a detailed description of the structures that will underpin the assurance of legality afforded by a FLEGT licence.

Governance: the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) focuses on governance and law enforcement and, by means of the licensing system, provides the assurance that Indonesia's timber is legally produced. It exemplifies Indonesia's commitment to improving accountability and transparency. The FLEGT licence will reassure the EU market that Indonesian timber products are from verified legal sources.

Compliance: the legislation for which compliance must be verified has been identified following an extensive stakeholder consultation process within Indonesia. Indonesia will work with an independent auditor, which will provide regular, public reports on the effectiveness of the system.

The Agreement covers a wide range of exported timber products.

Controls and institutional framework: the Agreement makes provision for import controls at the EU's borders.

It also provides for:

·         the establishment of a mechanism for dialogue and cooperation with the EU on the FLEGT scheme, via the Joint Implementation Committee;

·         principles of stakeholder participation, social safeguards, accountability and transparency, and monitoring of and reporting on implementation of the Agreement.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 14.04.2014.