EC Action Plan: a brief history G8 Asia FLEGT ministerial declaration UK-Indonesia memorandum of understanding International pressure and the work of GW, EIA Greenpeace… The EC and WSSD

EC Process DG External Affairs Civil society consultation Interservice consultation Transfer of responsibility

EC Process Commissioners approve Action Plan Council Parliament Back to Commission

Action Plan What does the action plan say? Capacity building Voluntary Regulation and Licencing Money laundering Export credit agencies Public Procurement

Comments New legislation The proposed Partnerships Money Laundering ECAs Public Procurement

Next steps Pressure on the Council Pressure on Member states Work with the EP

Existing laws: money laundering Money laundering legislation could be more effective Definition of criminal activities depends on those in state where proceeds are disposed of, not on those of country of origin Problems: National legislation varies; may not always allow action (though probably does in UK) But still probably difficult to prove criminal activity Actions: Strengthen national and EU legislation and implementation

What’s lacking in existing laws? Identification of illegal material difficult Proof of illegality difficult to obtain Co-operation with enforcement authorities in country of origin may be poor No existing laws seem likely to capture all imports of illegal timber

US model Lacey Act makes it illegal to import any fish or wildlife produced in violation of any foreign law Prosecutors use the Lacey Act but many practical difficulties

Requirements for a new approach Key component: New legislation at EU level to prevent the entry of illegally sourced timber into the EU Has to be at EU level – single market Therefore needs a new Regulation (applicable directly and uniformly throughout EU)

The new approach Objective: Enable the EU to exclude illegally sourced timber and wood products Requirements for new approach Based on: Bilateral agreements between the EU and producer countries A licencing scheme: –Certificate of legality –Independent verification of legality

EC Action Plan The action plan is divided into 5 sections: –Development co-operation –Trade in timber –Public Procurement –Private sector initiatives –Finance and investment safeguards

Main Points voluntary licencing scheme w. Regulation more research on General Prohibition Regulation Public procurement Finance and investment

What have NGOs done? Meetings NGO Consultation NGO Statistics NGO position papers NGO Research

What NGOs want A new regulation to stop illegal imports Improved public procurement ECAs Money laundering Bilateral agreements

What next? NGOs need to agree a common position The action plan comes out in May Conclusions must be adopted by the Council