On Wednesday 27 January, the European Parliament Committee on International Trade (INTA) backed the draft report prepared by Karin Karlsbro (Renew Europe, Sweden) agreeing to ratification of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) between the European Union and Honduras.
The purpose of this agreement is to ensure that timber exported to the EU is produced legally. Following the agreement, FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade) licences will be issued, guaranteeing that the timber has been harvested, processed and exported in accordance with Honduran legislation.
Karin Karlsbro, the rapporteur for this issue, expressed her support for the agreement, calling on her colleagues to join her in supporting it during the vote. “I think this is one of the best examples of a trade tool to meet sustainable development and trade goals”, she said.
Some MEPs did, however, express concern about the human rights situation in Honduras. They raised the matter of the treatment of indigenous people and land rights activists.
“Perhaps the European Parliament could be involved in the joint committee implementing the legality assurance system? It is interesting to see that indigenous communities are at the negotiating table, but they will definitely need further support”, said Heidi Hautala (Greens/EFA, Finland).
On the question of the timetable for ratifying the agreement, the Commission stated that it was in favour of ratification before November’s presidential elections in Honduras. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)