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INTERIM REPORT (COM(2023)0383 – C90035/2024 – 2023/0222R(NLE))

On the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the 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)

A-9-2024-0137

Committee on International Trade · Rapporteur: Karin Karlsbro

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Parliament's resolution welcomes the conclusion of negotiations on the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) between the EU and Côte d'Ivoire on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber, and calls for its swift ratification by both sides. It says FLEGT licensing can only start once Côte d'Ivoire shows its timber legality assurance system (TLAS) is ready, and asks for measures to cut administrative burdens, including digital and paperless solutions. It highlights high deforestation in Côte d'Ivoire linked to cocoa, calls for stakeholder and gender inclusion, free, prior and informed consent, and capacity-building and technical support from the Commission and the EU Delegation. It asks the Commission to increase funding for the Forest Partnership with Côte d'Ivoire in the 2025-2027 bilateral programme review, to report periodically on the FLEGT action plan, and to report regularly to Parliament on implementation. It urges Côte d'Ivoire to tackle fraud, organised crime and corruption in the timber supply chain, and calls on member states to comply with the EU Timber Regulation and align with the EU Deforestation Regulation. It stresses the importance of forest jobs and rural employment, asks for an assessment of the VPA's impact on workers and small producers, and calls for support for their reconversion to other activities.

Committee position. The Committee on International Trade proposes that Parliament give its consent to the conclusion of the VPA, while calling for swift ratification, capacity-building support, stakeholder and gender inclusion, increased funding for the Forest Partnership, and measures to tackle corruption and support affected workers.

Key points

  1. Welcomes the conclusion of VPA negotiations between the EU and Côte d'Ivoire and calls for swift ratification by both sides so it can enter into force.
  2. Recognises full VPA implementation will be long-term, requiring legislation, administrative capacity and expertise; FLEGT licensing can only begin once Côte d'Ivoire demonstrates its TLAS is ready.
  3. Calls for measures to reduce burdensome administrative processes and urges both partners to identify digital methods such as e-certificates.
  4. Highlights high deforestation rates in Côte d'Ivoire, linked in particular to cocoa production, and poor control of illegal logging and timber trade.
  5. Stresses continued consultations and stakeholder involvement, including local and indigenous communities, and the gender factor, and recalls the need to comply with free, prior and informed consent.
  6. Calls on the Commission and the EU Delegation to Côte d'Ivoire to provide capacity-building, logistical and technical support, and recommends digital opportunities such as traceability and block chain technologies.
  7. Welcomes Côte d'Ivoire's actions to reverse deforestation, including the REDD+ strategy, the Cocoa and Forests Initiative, the forest preservation policy and the new Forest Code.
  8. Acknowledges the EU Deforestation Regulation, urges partners to avoid duplication and streamline actions, and insists on support mechanisms for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and smallholder farmers.
  9. Stresses that FLEGT success depends on tackling fraud, organised crime and corruption throughout the timber supply chain, and urges Côte d'Ivoire to stop widespread corruption, particularly in customs.
  10. Calls on the Commission to increase funding for the Forest Partnership with Côte d'Ivoire in the 2025-2027 bilateral programme review and to report periodically on the FLEGT action plan.
  11. Welcomes Côte d'Ivoire's commitment to integrate women into forest resource management, calls for gender analysis in all FLEGT VPA activities, and urges other Ivorian public bodies to adopt gender strategies.
  12. Calls for strengthening private sector participation, assisting operators, especially SMEs, and asks the Commission to promote reconversion programmes for workers and small producers affected by increased logging controls.

Who is affected

  • Côte d'Ivoire: must implement the TLAS, continue regulatory reforms and tackle corruption in the timber supply chain.
  • EU member states: called on to comply with the EU Timber Regulation and align with the EU Deforestation Regulation.
  • Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and smallholder farmers: need support mechanisms for implementing the EU Deforestation Regulation.
  • Workers and small producers in the forest sector: may be affected by increased logging controls; assessment and reconversion programmes requested.
  • Local and indigenous communities: should be involved in VPA implementation, with free, prior and informed consent for use of customary forest lands.

Figures and deadlines

  • Approximately 11 % of Côte d'Ivoire's land area is covered by forests.
  • Côte d'Ivoire lost 75 % of its forests since 1960.
  • Forest cover loss averaged 275 000 ha per year between 1990 and 2000, 71 600 ha per year between 2015 and 2021, and 26 000 ha per year between 2019 and 2021.
  • In 2019, forestry accounted for 1 % of Côte d'Ivoire's GDP.
  • 67 % of Ivorian cocoa exports go to the EU.
  • From 1 January 2025, cocoa and timber from Côte d'Ivoire supplied to EU markets must comply with the EU Deforestation Regulation.
  • Around 40 % of Côte d'Ivoire's cocoa production is destined for the EU.
  • It is estimated that 54.9 % of Ivorian cocoa producers and their families live below the poverty line.

Legal basis: Articles 207(3) and 207(4), in conjunction with Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a)(v) and Article 218(7) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.