RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Honduras on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Honduras on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union

(12543/2020– C9‑0084/2021 – 2020/0157(NLE))

(Consent)

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the draft Council decision (12543/2020),

– having regard to the draft Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Honduras on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union (10365/2020),

– having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Article 207(3), first subparagraph and Article 207(4), first subparagraph and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a)(v) and Article 218(7) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C9‑0084/2021),

– having regard to its non-legislative resolution of ...[1] on the draft decision,

– having regard to Rule 105(1) and (4), and Rule 114(7) of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Development,

– having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on International Trade (A9-0053/2021),

1. Gives its consent to the conclusion of the agreement;

2. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of the Republic of Honduras.

 

 

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The EU published its Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan in 2003. It aims to combat illegal logging in the world. By entering Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) with timber producing third countries, the EU opens for imports of legally sourced timber and timber products to enter the Single Market. These agreements are binding trade agreements. They also contribute to better regulation and governance of the forest sector in the exporting country.

 

Honduras is the first country in Latin America to start and to conclude negotiations on a Voluntary Partnership Agreement with the EU. The negotiations started in 2013 and were concluded in 2018, and Honduras is the first VPA partner ever to have indigenous people as a separate interest group at the negotiation table. The first important step has now been taken, to conclude the negotiations of the VPA. Once the agreement is ratified and enters into force, the subsequent implementation phase will be crucial. A timber legality assurance system (TLAS) needs to be in place, with effective supply chain controls, and mechanisms for verifying compliance, as well as be subject to independent audits. Only then will it be possible to start issuing FLEGT licences. These licences then allow products to enter the Single Market as they fulfil the criteria of the Union's Timber Regulation.

 

While currently only a small part of Honduras' timber and timber product exports go to the EU, this agreement aims to increase that share but also to open export avenues for Honduras to other markets that set legally sourced conditions on timber imports. For the EU, the agreement is in line with its objectives to encourage sustainable forest management, to address deforestation and forest degradation, and to promote sustainable development, as it has committed to in the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, the Paris Agreement, and the Convention of Biological Diversity Aichi targets, as well as the UN Strategic Plan for forests 2017-2030.

 

Almost half of the land area in Honduras is covered by forests and there is still a large number of unclassified trees and species. Half of the forest area consists of rain forests. Since 2015, the loss of Honduras' forests is at 12.5%, caused by climate change, forest fires, deforestation and illegal logging. The importance of the forest sector in the Honduran economy has decreased over a long period, due to stricter requirements on the legality of timber in Honduras' export markets, and to forest destruction. A successful implementation of this VPA should positively contribute to strengthening the forest sector in Honduras and lead to increased exports of legally sourced timber, resulting in a stronger economy and jobs.  

 

Honduras is marked by high levels of poverty, violence, and corruption. The rapporteur believes that any initiative that can bring civil society, private sector, indigenous groups and the government together to find solutions for a sustainable forest sector, like the negotiations resulting in this VPA, needs full support and encouragement. The European Parliament needs therefore to give its consent to this important agreement. The EU furthermore needs to carefully monitor and offer capacity support to ensure its effective implementation. This is an opportunity for a win-win agreement, but it is also a responsibility to act where we can, on working for common goals and together fighting shared challenges.