On Monday 16 December, the EU Council welcomed the new framework for action presented by the Commission in July to strengthen EU action for the protection and restoration of the world's forests (see EUROPE B12329A2, B12302A1).
In conclusions adopted without debate, the EU Council and Member States express their “deep concern” at the inadequacy of current policies and actions to curb deforestation. They therefore encourage the Commission to urgently set priorities for implementing the...