Adopting by 354 to 53 and 266 abstentions an own-initiative report by Green MEP Heidi Hautala (Finland) on transparent and responsible management or national resources, particularly forests, in developing countries, the European Parliament called on Tuesday 11 September for an overarching strategy for combating the illegal and unreasonable exploitation of forests.
The European Commission is urged to rapidly act to reduce Europe’s imprint on forests and its impact on climate change, loss of biodiversity and violations of human rights.
The text calls for an action plan of regulatory measures to ensure that no supply chain or financial transaction connected with the EU causes deforestation, degradation of forests or violations of human rights. The EU calls for greater technical and financial assistance for developing countries in order to protect, maintain and restore forests and strengthen the means of subsistence of communalities depending on forests.
It calls for stronger action to tackle illegal felling of wood and the related trade and urges the Commission and European governments to fully implement the EU regulation on wood, notably effective controls and dissuasive penalties. The Commission is invited to include binding measures in all the EU's trade and investment agreements. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)