10 EU Forest Strategy
| (35322)
13834/13
COM(13) 659
| Commission Communication: A new EU Forest Strategy for forests and the forest-based sector
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| Legal base | —
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| Document originated | 20 September 2013
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| Deposited in Parliament | 25 September 2013
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| Department | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
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| Basis of consideration | EM of 2 October 2013
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| Previous Committee Report | None, but see footnote
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| Discussion in Council | No date set
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
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Background
10.1 According to the Commission, forestry and other wooded
land cover over 40% of the EU's total land area, and, although
the global forest area continues to decrease, that within the
EU has grown by about 0.4% a year in recent decades. It adds that
currently only about 60-70% of the annual increment in the EU
is being cut, but that harvest rates in 2020 are expected to be
around 30% higher than those in 2010.
10.2 The Commission also points out that forests
serve a range of economic, social and environmental purposes,
providing about three million jobs, offering habitats for animals
and plants, and playing a major role in mitigating climate change.
In particular, forest biomass is currently the most important
source of renewable energy, accounting for half of the EU's total
renewable consumption.
10.3 The Commission says that ensuring sustainable
forest management is essential if these benefits are to be realised
in a balanced way, and that, although the Treaty on the Functioning
of the EU contains no specific provisions for an EU forestry policy,
the EU has a long history of contributing through a range of other
policies. It also notes that the 1998 EU Forestry Strategy established
a framework for forest related actions supporting sustainable
management and based on cooperative links between the EU and Member
States.
10.4 The Commission also highlights the Forest
Action Plan for 2007-11,[34]
which addressed competitiveness, environment, quality of life
and coordination and communication, with co-financing being provided
under the Rural Development Regulation. It says that an evaluation
of that Plan has underlined the need for a new forest strategy
which develops and implements a common vision of multifunctional
and sustainable forest management in Europe; defines action priorities
and targets; links EU and Member State funding strategies and
plans; strengthens coherent cross-sectoral planning, funding and
implementation; establishes clear mechanisms for monitoring, evaluation
and reporting; and revises stakeholder involvement.
The current document
10.5 The Commission has sought in this Communication
to set out objectives of such a Strategy, which it defines as
being:
- to ensure EU forests are managed
in a sustainable way;
- to demonstrate that sustainable
forest management is being achieved;
- to apply these principles worldwide, and strengthen
the EU's role in reducing global deforestation;
- to balance forest functions and deliver ecosystem
services;
- to provide for a viable and competitive forestry
and forest-based industries; and
- to promote the role of forestry in delivering
a "green economy".
10.6 In order to achieve this, the Strategy sets
out the following priority areas:
Supporting rural and urban communities
Rural Development funds from within the EU budget
would be used to promote competitiveness and support sustainable
economic activity.
Fostering forest-based industries, bio-energy,
and the green economy
The long-term sustainability and increasing competitiveness
of these industries, including the need to develop the role of
biomass, assess potential wood supplies and support the development
of technology, would be ensured.
Forests in a changing climate
The resilience of forests to climate change (including
from forest fires) would be increased, and their roles in emissions
reduction through Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF)
initiatives would be recognised.
Protecting forests and enhancing ecosystem services
The co-operation of Member States on trans-boundary
threats, such as pests, and the protection of the forest environment,
would be improved, contributing to the management of the Natura
2000 network and implementing EU nature legislation.
Improving the forest knowledge base
A forest information system across the EU, based
on Member States' activities, would be created, assisting Member
States in preventing the spread of plant diseases, and tackling
the trade in illegal timber.
New innovative forestry and added-value products
There would be cooperation in the area of forest
research and technological development, including the use of funding
from the Horizon 2020 budget.
Cooperation to manage and better understand forests
The work of the Standing Forestry Committee as a
forum for discussing forest-related issues would continue, and
there would be improved coherence with other sectors and EU policies.
Forests from a global perspective
The new Strategy would form a vehicle for implementing
the Forest Europe Legally Binding Agreement, combating illegal
logging and co-ordinating EU and Member State policies in relation
to international issues.
10.7 As was the case with the original Strategy,
the Commission is expected to propose a new implementing Action
Plan, outlining specific initiatives through which the objectives
will be achieved by the Commission and Member States within their
respective competences. It will also work to reinforce links between
forest policy and related EU measures.
The Government's view
10.8 In his Explanatory Memorandum of 2 October
2013, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord de Mauley) says
that the Communication is clear that there is no EU competence
on forest policy, but states that the EU can contribute to "Member
States' decisions on forests". He adds that the aim of the
previous Strategy, and the clear direction from Member States
in developing this Strategy, has been to provide a forum for improving
the evidence base for Member States' forest policies (including
the better sharing of scientific evidence and best practice),
to improve the coherence of policy making at the EU level, and
to ensure forest management has been taken into account in the
development of policy in areas where the EU does have competence,
for example biodiversity and climate change.
10.9 The Minister observes that, where the EU
operates externally, it is recognised that competence remains
with Member States, though the mixed competence nature of many
agreements allows for an active role for the EU, one such example
being the development of the Legally Binding Agreement (LBA) on
Forests in Europe.[35]
He adds that the issue of competence is one where the UK has
wide support from other Member States, including the most forested
EU countries (Finland, Sweden, Austria and Germany), which are
resistant to any suggestions that policy on a sector which is
so significant economically and socially at the national level
should be determined at the EU level. He says that this was clearly
set out in the development of the Strategy, and that the UK can
expect support on this in the forthcoming Council Conclusions
for the Strategy and on the subsequent implementation.
10.10 The Minister also points out that implementation
by Member States of initiatives outlined in the Strategy will
be optional and entirely dependent on national forest plans, but
says that the guidance contained in the Strategy and the forthcoming
Action Plan will help the UK's policy formation, with there being
benefits from increased information sharing, particularly in combating
the spread of disease and the trade of illegal timber. He also
believes that the framework set out will result in more coherent
action at EU level, ensuring that any new initiatives or legislation
affecting forests and forest activities are conducted in a way
which complements existing efforts and ensures a consistent approach
to sustainable forest management.
Conclusion
10.11 Although we do not think this document
raises any issues requiring further consideration, and are therefore
clearing it, we think it right to to draw it to the attention
of the House.
34 (27603) 10448/06: see HC 34-xxxv (2005-06), chapter
12 (12 July 2006). Back
35
The Negotiating Directives, for both the EU and the Presidency
of the Council states that they "shall ensure that any LBA
is a framework agreement, which has a content that shall primarily
be implemented by the Member States and which will not entail
new EU legislation that would affect the current distribution
of competences between the EU and its Member States, taking into
account the principle of subsidiarity". Back
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