1957

1. Forest Action Plan and EU Forestry Strategy after 2011 Hilkka SummaEuropean CommissionDG Agriculture and Rural Development

2. The EU has no specific competence in forestry - “Forest policy” is in the competence of the Member - many forest related policies in shared competence • Council Resolution on a Forestry Strategy for the European Union (1998) Establishes a framework for forest-related actions in support of sustainable forest Management • Court of justice (1999): forest protection based on Art. 175 of the Treaty

3. Forestry Action Programme Afforestation Forest protection; SFC EU ForestryStrategy 1957 1989 1992 1998 2006 EUForestActionPlan Treaties on the European Community: No specific approach to forests or forestry New forest protection regulations; Strengthened forestry measures in agriculture

4. EU Forestry Strategy Overall principles • Sustainable forest management (SFM) • Multifunctional role of forests Key elements • EU-level actions based on subsidiarity • Implementation of international commitments through national forest programmes • Commercial functions to be guided by market forces • The need to improve co-ordination and cooperation on forest-related issues • Role of biodiversity, protection of forest ecosystems • Forests as carbon sinks; encouragement of the use of wood • Common measures affecting forests to be in line with the aims and recommendations of the strategy

5. Communication on the implementation of the EU Forestry Strategy (2005): • Basic principles and elements still valid • Newly emerging policy context to be • considered • Economic challenges for SFM: globalisation and increased societal demands • Need to strengthen coherence between EU policies and co-ordination between the Commission and the MS • Need to review and strengthen consultative structures in forestry • Global importance of forests for sustainable development • More coherent and pro-active approach needed • => The Council encouraged setting up an EU Forest Action Plan

6. EU Forest Action Plan (FAP) – 2006 Four objectives: • Competitiveness • Maintain and enhance biodiversity • Contribute to quality of life • Improve coordination • Developed in co-operation between MS, stakeholders and the Commission • 18 key actions for the period 2007-2011 • Implementation by the Commission and the MS, coordinated by the Standing Forestry Committee • Mid-term review of implementation in 2009 • Final evaluation and report to the Council and the European Parliament by end 2012

7. Mid-term evaluation of the FAP • Carried out by EFI • Some key findings: • Implementation has been efficient • multi-annual Work Programme 2007-2011 • prioritizations • However questions about impact and visibility • only two years of implementation – difficult to show effects • impact on measures and initiatives at EU and national level questionnable • reach-out to other sectors could be better • The EU FAP is on track: it does contribute to a more coordinated approach for forest-related actions in the EU • e.g.structured information flow and regular communication through the work of SFC, AGFC, ISG

8. Challenges of the voluntary approach to forest policy • EU level involvement in forest policy is currently based on instruments for voluntary co-operation • Challenges: • FAP not widely known outside the forest administrations; potential for leverage to other sectors not fully utilised • National or sub-national measures do not connect with the EU FAP • No systematic reporting of MS activities on internal or international commitments • The need for a coherent and proactive approach to the forest sector has not changed • The Strategy and the FAP are “soft” instruments – what can be achieved depends on the interests, position and activity of forest administrations

9. Future of the voluntary instruments? • Update of the EU Forestry Strategy? • New FAP post 2011? • Mid term evaluation of the FAP: • Discussions on follow up should be started • SFC Work programme for the implementation of the FAP 2010/2011 • Need for a Working Group of the Standing Forestry Committee on the future of the strategy and the FAP(-> end 2010 / beginning 2011) • White Paper on Adaptation to climate change (April 2009): • Need to update the EU forestry strategy on climate related aspects

10. Future of the EU Forestry Strategy? • Depends on a number of parallel discussions: • Follow-up to be given to the Green Paper on Forest protection and information: results of public consultation and response of the EP expected this autumn • LULUCF accounting methods and possible integration into EU climate commitments • Initiative for a Legally Binding Agreement on forests (LBA) on the Pan–European level (MCPFE/Forest Europe) • Basic principles and elements continue to prevail: - SFM and multifunctional role of forests still the „common denominator“ - new challenges not well covered by existing instruments? • - what are the best instruments to ensure implementation??

11. Three scenarios: • Green Paper followed by EU legislation on forest protection and/or information • Separate Forestry Strategy and/or action plan superfluous • Harmonised implementation, strong coordination • Balance would tip from SFM to protection? • Legislation delayed/opposed – renewed voluntary instruments: =>New strategy and voluntary commitments (“OMC”) =>Weaker impact/harmonisation =>Easier to accomodate varying interests and objectives • Both tracks in parallel =>Need to differentiate between purposes =>Administrative burden =>Risk of polarisation of competent bodies

12. Documents • Council Resolution of 15.12.1998 on a forestry strategy for the European Union (1999/C 56/01) • Communication on the implementation of the EU Forestry Strategy, COM(2005) 84 final • EU Forest Action Plan, COM(2006) 302 final • White Paper Adapting to climate change: Towards a European Framework for Action, COM(2009)147 final Forest strategy-related information http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/fore/index_en.htm

13. Thank you for your attention