Council conclusions emphasise that 'there is no common EU forest policy and responsibility lies with member states'.
20 May 2014
Council conclusions emphasise that 'there is no common EU forest policy and responsibility lies with member states'.
Agriculture ministers meeting in Brussels today (19 May) adopted conclusions on a proposed European Union forest strategy from the European Commission, but they stopped short of endorsing the document.
The conclusions underline that "while the EU has a variety of forest-related policies, the treaty on the functioning of the European Union makes no reference to a common EU forest policy and responsibility for forests lies with the member states."
At issue was the criteria the Commission is developing to determine whether member states are sustainably managing their forests. Several countries were concerned that the criteria would be used by the Commission to overrule their national policies. The conclusions say that the Commission should instead use existing criteria and indicators developed by Forest Europe as well as national instruments and market-based measures. Such criteria should only be adopted "if needed".
The national governments have been particularly concerned about a lack of clarity on what any new criteria by the Commission would be used for. There has also been confusion about what role biomass sustainability indicators will play.
The European Council conclusions also do not appear to support the Commission's idea to prioritise wood for products such as paper and lumber over its use for energy.
European beverage carton industry association ACE said it welcomes the Council's preference for the indicators developed by Forest Europe. "ACE's experience with certification systems based on FSC standards bears this out," said Katarina Molin, ACE director-general. "Application of FSC standards over the last 20 years has demonstrated environmental and social benefits which make positive contributions to EU forest policy."
Molin continues: "We support the new Strategy's emphasis on 'exploring and promoting the sourcing of wood from sustainably managed forests as a renewable, climate and environment-friendly raw material.''
In addition ACE shares the view that the criteria and indicators for SFM developed by Forest Europe constitute a solid baseline. ACE specifically welcomes the acknowledgement of the role to be played by forest certification schemes, which the new Strategy identifies as "a market-based tool for promoting sustainably produced forest products".
ACE's experience with certification systems based on FSC standards bears this out. ACE members SIG Combibloc, Elopak and Tetra Pak have an ongoing voluntary commitment to full traceability of the fibres they use in the beverage cartons they manufacture. Application of FSC standards over the last 20 years has demonstrated environmental and social benefits which make positive contributions to EU forest policy.
