07/03/2023 (Agence Europe) – Ratification is completed on the EU side regarding the EU/Guyana Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA). The EU Council adopted the agreement on Tuesday 7 March, after the European Parliament gave its green light on 14 February (see EUROPE 13121/8). The VPA should ensure the legality of timber cut in Guyana and exported to the EU. It allows the country to issue FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) licences that certify that timber has been harvested, processed and exported in accordance with that country’s laws. The agreement can enter into force once both sides have signalled to each other that their respective ratification procedures are complete, which is not yet the case for Guyana. (LM)