Brussels, 18/05/2010 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on Monday 17 May, the Republic of Congo and the European Union signed a voluntary partnership agreement to guarantee that only legally felled Congolese timber and timber products can be legally exported to the European market.
The signing ceremony took place in the EU Council building in the presence of Spanish Environment, Rural Affairs and Fisheries Minister Elena Espinosa Mangana, European Environment Commissioner Janez Potoènik, and Republic of Congo Minister for Sustainable Development, Forests and the Environment Henri Djombo.
The agreement on application of forest regulations, governance, and timber and timber product trade (the FLEGT agreement, Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) was negotiated by the Commission on behalf of the European Community.
The World Bank believes that some of the world's poorest countries are losing over US$15 billion per year through illegal felling. The FLEGT voluntary agreements are bilateral agreements between the EU and countries which export tropical wood, providing mutual commitment to improving good governance and ensuring that timber imported into the EU is from legal sources.
The Republic of Congo is the second country, after Ghana, to sign such an agreement. (A.N./transl.rt)