Brussels, 26/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European forest-related organisations are urging the European Commission to adopt its communication on the EU's forest strategy which should take climate change and the demand for renewable energies more into account. It would seem that the text of the strategy has been blocked for months within Commission services.
In a letter addressed to the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, several professional organisations of the forestry sector (Confederation of European Forest Owners, CEPF; European Farmers European Agri-Cooperatives, COPA-COGECA; European State Forest Association, EUSTAFOR; European Confederation of woodworking industries, CEI-Bois; et al.) express their concern about the delay in publishing the new EU forest strategy. The strategy, the organisations point out, was provided for as part of the Commission's working programme for 2012 but it was postponed till 2013. Inter-service consultation was to end in April and the communication which opens the way to discussion at the European Parliament and Council was due to be adopted during June. Adoption has now been postponed till September.
The Advisory Group on Forestry and Cork (17 June 2013) as well as member state representatives (within the Standing Forestry Committee on 28 June 2013), recently urged the Commission to overcome the last obstacles and to release the strategy so that it can be examined by the European Parliament and the EU Council. “But no action has been taken”, the European forest organisations bemoan.
Subsidiarity
The expected European Commission communication on a new EU forest strategy would update and replace the existing forestry strategy which dates back to 1998. It would take into account the new challenges for forests and forestry policy in reference to climate change, the growing demand for renewable energy, biodiversity, etc. It should be based on the concept of sustainable management and the multifunctional role of forests. To achieve these objectives, however, it is important to give greater coherence to European forest policy. This makes some member states fear they will lose their powers in this sector. Germany, in particular, is very attached to the principle of subsidiarity in this field. The Lithuanian Presidency intends to adopt conclusions on EU forest strategy during its mandate, which runs until end 2013. (LC/transl.jl)