Home Europe Council of the European Union Council Decision (EU) 2024/1413 of 29 April 2024 on the conc...
Date: 27-May-2024 Category: Not Applicable State: Union Government Country: Europe

Council Decision (EU) 2024/1413 of 29 April 2024 on the conclusion of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and timber products to the European Union (FLEGT)

Issued by Council of the European Union · Not Applicable

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Executive Summary & Key Takeaways

What it means

  • Council Decision (EU) 2024/1413 approves the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) between the European Union and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire. The agreement concerns forest law enforcement, governance, and trade in timber and timber products to the European Union (FLEGT).
  • The decision signifies the EU's commitment to combating illegal logging and promoting sustainable forest management through collaborative agreements with timber-producing countries.

Key Changes

  • The Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the EU and Côte d’Ivoire is formally approved on behalf of the Union.
  • The President of the Council will notify Côte d’Ivoire of the EU's approval of the agreement, as per Article 31 of the VPA.
  • The European Commission will represent the EU in the Joint Implementation Committee established under Article 19 of the VPA.
  • The Commission is authorized to approve amendments to the annexes of the Agreement, following the procedure outlined in Article 11(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2173/2005.
  • The decision came into force on April 29, 2024.

Impact Analysis

Timber Importers/Traders

  • Action Item: Stay informed about the implementation of the FLEGT licensing scheme in Côte d’Ivoire and adjust sourcing practices accordingly.

Côte d’Ivoire Timber Industry

  • Action Item: Engage with the Ivorian government and relevant stakeholders to understand the requirements of the VPA and implement necessary changes to operations.

European Union

  • Action Item: The European Commission needs to effectively represent the EU in the Joint Implementation Committee and oversee the implementation of the VPA.

Environmental Organizations

  • Action Item: Engage with the EU and the Ivorian government to advocate for strong enforcement of the VPA and transparency in the timber sector.

Key Entities Referenced

European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe. Republic of Côte d’Ivoire: A country located on the south coast of West Africa. Council of the European Union: A body representing the governments of the EU member states. European Commission: The executive branch of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and managing the EU's budget. European Parliament: The directly elected parliamentary body of the European Union. Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA): An agreement between the European Union and a timber-producing country aimed at improving forest governance and ensuring that timber exports to the EU are legal. Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT): An EU action plan to combat illegal logging and promote sustainable forest management. Joint Implementation Committee: A committee established under the VPA to oversee its implementation. Council Regulation (EC) No 2173/2005: A regulation establishing a FLEGT licensing scheme for imports of timber into the European Community.
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Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2024/1413 27.5.2024 COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2024/1413 of 29 April 2024 on the conclusion of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and timber products to the European Union (FLEGT) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 207(3) and the first subparagraph of Article 207(4), in conjunction with Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a)(v), and Article 218(7) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament (1), Whereas: (1) On 21 May 2003, the Commission adopted a Communication to the Council and the European Parliament ‘Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT): proposal for an EU action plan’. The Action Plan set out in that communication (‘the FLEGT Action Plan’) called for measures to address illegal logging by developing voluntary partnership agreements with timber-producing countries. Council conclusions on the action plan were adopted in October 2003 (2) and a European Parliament resolution on the subject was adopted on 11 July 2005 (3). (2) In line with Council Decision (EU) 2024/1412 (4), the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and timber products (‘the Agreement’) was signed on 19 February 2024, subject to its conclusion at a later date. (3) The Agreement should be approved, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and timber products is approved on behalf of the Union (5). Article 2 The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the Union, give the notification provided for in Article 31 of the Agreement (6). Article 3 The Commission shall represent the Union within the Joint Implementation Committee set up under Article 19 of the Agreement. (1) Consent of 10 April 2024 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (2) OJ C 268, 7.11.2003, p. 1. (3) OJ C 157 E, 6.7.2006, p. 482. (4) Council Decision (EU) 2024/1412 of 19 February 2024 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and timber products to the European Union (FLEGT) (OJ L, 2024/1412, 27.5.2024, ELI: http://data.europa. eu/eli/dec/2024/1412/oj). (5) The text of the Agreement is published in OJ L, 2024/1414 of 27.5.2024. (6) The date of entry into force of the Agreement will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the General Secretariat of the Council. ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/1413/oj 1/2EN OJ L, 27.5.2024 The Member States may participate in meetings of the Joint Implementation Committee as members of the Union delegation. Article 4 For the purpose of amending the annexes to the Agreement in accordance with Article 26 of the Agreement, the Commission is authorised, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 11(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2173/2005 (7), to approve any such amendments on behalf of the Union. Article 5 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption. Done at Luxembourg, 29 April 2024. For the Council The President D. CLARINVAL (7) Council Regulation (EC) No 2173/2005 of 20 December 2005 on the establishment of a FLEGT licensing scheme for imports of timber into the European Community (OJ L 347, 30.12.2005, p. 1). 2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/1413/oj

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