Illegal timber/climate change
EU agriculture ministers cut out tough measures backed by EU Parliament
Yesterday, the EU Agricultural Council reached a political agreement on the draft Regulation on the illegal trade of timber and wood products. UK Green MEP Caroline Lucas, who drafts the EU Parliament legislative reports on this issue, commented:
"As world leaders seek to secure a climate deal in Copenhagen, EU agricultural ministers have shamefully watered down illegal timber legislation that would make a significant contribution towards meeting the massive challenges ahead. Securing strong EU legislation against the illegal trade of timber would help to reduce the wider problem of deforestation, which accounts for nearly a fifth of the global total emissions causing climate change.
Although I welcome the Swedish EU Presidency's efforts to finally secure a Council agreement, the end result falls far short of the progressive position backed by the European Parliament in April this year. Council has failed to follow MEPs' call for a full ban on illegal timber, for a due diligence system and for sanctions and penalties to apply to all operators throughout the supply chain.
With the Regulation returning to Parliament for a second reading, I will work with fellow MEPs to reinstate the strict and effective measures that received overwhelming support earlier this year."
