Report available: Dutch consultation meeting on EU FLEGT Action Plan and Timber Regulation

The Action Plan sets out a range of measures available to the EU and its member states to tackle illegal logging in the world's forests. Complementary to this evaluation the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) is also evaluated. The EUTR came into force in March 2013 to reinforce the implementation of the EU FLEGT Action Plan; it prohibits operators in Europe from placing illegally harvested timber and products derived from illegal timber on the EU market. The EC called upon Member States and stakeholders to provide their inputs to the evaluations.

Against this background the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands organized on the 1st of September 2015 a consultation meeting with Dutch stakeholders. The meeting was facilitated by Tropenbos International and was attended by around 40 participants representing a wide range of partners in society: the private sector, branch organisations, financial institutions, NGOs, universities, government and enforcement authorities, and independent advisers. During the meeting the participants shared their perspectives on successes, failures and scope for improvement of both instruments. This report summarizes the main results of the presentations and discussions.