Ten EU professional organisations called on 14 January for an updated and strengthened EU forestry strategy after 2020.
The EU forestry strategy was launched in 2013, but “much remains to be done, both at EU and national level, to ensure greater policy coherence and consistency in the future”, say the organisations that signed a joint declaration: CEETTAR (European Organisation of Agricultural, Rural and Forestry Contractors), CEI-BOIS (European Confederation of the Woodworking Industries), CEJA (European Council of Young Farmers), CEPF (Confederation of European Forest Owners ), CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries), Copa-Cogeca (European Farmers and European Agri-Cooperatives), ELO (European Landowners Organisation), EUSTAFOR (European State Forest Association), UEF (Union of European Foresters) and USSE (Union of Foresters of Southern Europe).
The organisations call on European decision-makers to propose an updated and stronger EU Forest Strategy before the end of 2019, which encompasses recent and upcoming EU policies and is adequately resourced.
Several MEPs relayed this request at a joint meeting of the Parliament’s Agriculture, Environment and Energy Committees on 14 January, in the presence of the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Phil Hogan. He warned that there will never be "agreement between Member States on a common European Forest Policy”, but "there is already a lot to do as part of a strategy". The Commission will organise an international conference on forests in Brussels on 25 and 26 April. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)