On Wednesday 1 September, members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture criticised the main elements of the EU Forest Strategy presented by the European Commission.
MEPs believe that the proposals go beyond the Commission’s prerogatives and undermine national and regional forest strategies. They also denounce the lack of financial support for forest managers and that the forest is only considered a carbon sink.
These criticisms echo those already made by the German and Austrian Ministers of Agriculture, who issued a joint statement on 26 August rejecting the Commission’s proposals, which would “deprive Member States of their planning sovereignty and replace it with binding EU requirements”.
Herbert Dorfmann (EPP, Italy) also recalled that competence for forestry lies with the EU Member States and that the Commission’s competence over forests is very limited. This strategy seems too superficial, said Mr Dorfmann.
Certification. Other MEPs criticised the Commission’s ideas on setting up a voluntary certification scheme so that the most biodiversity-friendly management practices could benefit from a European quality label (see EUROPE 12764/1). Martin Häusling (Greens/EFA, Germany) argued instead for a robust certification system applied in all EU countries.
Juozas Olekas (S&D, Lithuania) said that the strategy as proposed had been widely criticised for not providing support for forest managers.
Ulrike Müller (Renew Europe) is also critical of the initiatives suggested by the Commission. Like others, she regrets the Commission’s focus on the role of forests in carbon storage. Forest management is regulated at the Member State level, she also warned. Ms Müller criticised the Commission for not considering the opinions of the Council of the EU and the European Parliament on this forest strategy.
Martin Häusling (Greens/EFA, Germany) also voiced some criticism. He called for support for forest owners who have sustainable practices.
In response to MEPs’ criticisms, Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski gave assurances that the strategy presented “respects the division of powers”. Forest policy planning does not represent interference by the Commission, the Commissioner justified. “How far the EU’s intervention in forest management will go, only time will tell”, admitted Janusz Wojciechowski.
The Commissioner said that the share of the EU budget devoted to forests will be decided in the framework of future strategic plans for the common agricultural policy (CAP). Forests are sources of employment for millions of Europeans, said Mr Wojciechowski, who believes that the strategy respects the different functions of forests. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)