The EU has strict regulations on the types of timber that can be imported from abroad. It is part of the competence (ie: sovereignty) of the EU to manage these regulations. However, despite large expenditures the EU has had little success:
"... 12 years after launching an action plan to end the trade, results from the EU’s €300m aid programme to 35 partner countries have been “meagre” according to the auditors’ report, with problems at the demand and supply ends of the trade chain.
Four EU countries - Greece, Spain, Hungary and Romania - have still not implemented an EU timber regulation proposed five years ago, allowing an easy passage to market for the fruits of deforestation" Guardian Article
The European Court of Auditors produced a damning report in October on the state of the EU Timber Regulations:
"“Four countries (Greece, Hungary, Romania and Spain) have not yet fully implemented the EU Timber Regulation, which was introduced to prevent illegal timber entering the EU market. As the chain of control is only as strong as its weakest link in the single market, illegal timber could still be imported into the EU via these four countries. Europe, on the other hand, has promoted a licensing scheme to ensure that timber producing countries, around the world, export only legal timber. The EU should, firstly, put its own house in order and set an example in tackling illegal logging and the trade of illegally harvested timber” stated Mr Karel Pinxten, Member of the Court of Auditors responsible for this report.
11/2/16
"... 12 years after launching an action plan to end the trade, results from the EU’s €300m aid programme to 35 partner countries have been “meagre” according to the auditors’ report, with problems at the demand and supply ends of the trade chain.
Four EU countries - Greece, Spain, Hungary and Romania - have still not implemented an EU timber regulation proposed five years ago, allowing an easy passage to market for the fruits of deforestation" Guardian Article
The European Court of Auditors produced a damning report in October on the state of the EU Timber Regulations:
"“Four countries (Greece, Hungary, Romania and Spain) have not yet fully implemented the EU Timber Regulation, which was introduced to prevent illegal timber entering the EU market. As the chain of control is only as strong as its weakest link in the single market, illegal timber could still be imported into the EU via these four countries. Europe, on the other hand, has promoted a licensing scheme to ensure that timber producing countries, around the world, export only legal timber. The EU should, firstly, put its own house in order and set an example in tackling illegal logging and the trade of illegally harvested timber” stated Mr Karel Pinxten, Member of the Court of Auditors responsible for this report.
11/2/16
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