Brussels, 21/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the European Union are determined to cooperate in the struggle against deforestation. At the request of Prime Minister Muzito, the two parties formally opened the negotiation, on Thursday 23 October in Brussels, for a voluntary partnership agreement known as the Forest Law Enforcement, Government and Trade Agreement. This agreement seeks to guarantee that only legally felled Congolese timber and its derivatives can in the future be exported to the EU.
The go-ahead came about through the signing of a joint declaration by Andris Piebalgs, the European commissioner for development, José Bononge Endundo, the Congolese minister for the environment, nature conservation and tourism, and Charles Michel, the Belgian minister for co-operation and development, representing the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU. All parties are hoping that negotiations can be finalised by mid-2013.
Once in force, this agreement will require that all cargoes of Congolese wood and wood product derivatives to the European market be accompanied by a certificate attesting to their legal origin and that the cargoes respect the environmental, social and tax legislation of the DRC. This guarantee is expected to give a boost to sustainable forest management and job creation in this country, which contains 60% of all forest resources in the Congo basin. The agreement also seeks to put an end to the illegal timber trade and provide a commercial outlet to those legally employed in timber felling and protecting part of the world's natural heritage.
Belgium has funded preceding preparatory talks and is committed to supporting negotiations through the injection of around €3.5million between January 2011 and June 2013 as part of a project managed by the European Commission.
Voluntary partnership agreements have already been concluded between the EU and the Republic of Congo, Ghana and, very recently, with Cameroon (EUROPE 1230). Negotiations have begun with Gabon and others are ongoing with Liberia, Indonesia and Malaysia. (A.N./transl.fl)