Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) Archives

Laurent Tchagba, Willem van de Voorde and Jutta Urpilainen (left to right), at the signing of the FLEGT VPA between the European Union and Côte d'Ivoire.

The EU and Côte d’Ivoire sign a trade agreement on timber to enhance forest governance and combat illegal logging

20 March 2024

In Brussels, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, Ivorian Minister of Water and Forests, Laurent Tchagba, and Belgian Ambassador, Willem van de Voorde, signed a legally binding trade agreement aimed at promoting sustainable trade of legal timber to the EU. This agreement signifies Côte d’Ivoire‘s commitment to enhancing forest governance, modernising its forestry sector, and combating illegal logging while it assures EU-based timber buyers of the legality of timber products from Côte d’Ivoire.

The agreement’s signature concludes a decade-long negotiation process, shifting the focus towards implementation, including the establishment of a verification system to guarantee timber legality and traceability. Once this system is fully operational, Côte d’Ivoire will issue Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licences.

FLEGT licensing ensures legal and sustainable timber trade, benefiting both exporters and importers by guaranteeing compliance with legal standards and easing access to the EU market. By endorsing FLEGT-licensed timber, importers contribute to environmental conservation and socio-economic development in tropical countries, while fostering equitable societies and combating corruption. FLEGT licensing stands as a win-win proposition, ensuring legality, responsible forest management, and socio-economic progress in timber trade.

Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen emphasised the significance of international cooperation in combating deforestation and illegal logging. She highlighted the agreement’s role in fostering a future where sustainable forest management benefits local communities and aids in fighting climate change and preserving biodiversity. Minister Laurent Tchagba reaffirmed Côte d’Ivoire’s commitment to accelerating reforms under the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade – Voluntary Partnership Agreement (FLEGT-VPA), particularly in strengthening the governance framework and developing a timber legality assurance system for verifying legality and issuing FLEGT licenses.

The FLEGT VPA negotiations involved various stakeholders such as the Ivorian civil society, the private sector and the forest administration, who will stay involved during the implementation phase. The VPA is expected to increase revenue for Côte d’Ivoire’s forest sector while contributing to the EU’s FLEGT Action Plan goals. Côte d’Ivoire joins other African, Latin American and Asian countries in signing a VPA with the EU to combat illegal timber trade and enhance forest governance.

Minister for Lands and Natural Resources of Ghana, Mr. Samuel A. Jinapor, and Irchad Razaaly, Ambassador of the European Union to Ghana. Signing of the aide-memoire of the 11th JMRM meeting, 26 September 2023.

Christophe Hertecant

Ghana and the EU advance toward FLEGT licensing in their joint effort to combat trade in illegal timber

5 October 2023

The Ghana-EU Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) has reached a major milestone. During the meeting of the implementation body of the Agreement, the Parties took an important step toward issuing FLEGT licences, that will attest to the legality of Ghanaian timber products exported to the EU.

On 26 September 2023, a high-level Ghanaian delegation joined representatives of the European Union in Brussels to hold the 11^th meeting of the Joint Monitoring Review Mechanism (JMRM) of the Ghana-EU VPA on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT). The FLEGT VPA is a bilateral trade agreement aiming at promoting trade in legal timber between both Parties.

This session of the JMRM was the first since May 2019, and the first to be convened outside Ghana. The JMRM includes Ghanaian public authorities in charge of forest administration, private sector and civil society, as well as the European Commission.

Negotiations and discussions were fruitful, leading to the agreement of a Joint Action Plan representing an important step toward readiness for FLEGT licensing. FLEGT licences attest to the legality of Ghana’s timber and will enable Ghana’s timber products to enter the EU market without having to go through due diligence steps. It means a significant facilitation for both exporters and importers, and improves the terms of trade in timber for the EU and Ghana alike.

In 2016, Indonesia became the first country in the world to issue FLEGT licences; now Ghana is advancing rapidly toward the same goal, which will establish it as the first country in Africa and second in the world to issue FLEGT licences.

During the sessions, the Parties also reviewed the status of development of Ghana’s timber legality assurance system (GhLAS). They also took note of the further improvements made by Ghana on the electronic Wood Tracking System to serve now as a decision-making system instead of a simple tracking device.

Furthermore, Ghana has undertaken important legislative reforms in its forestry sector that enhance forest governance and enable the country to meet the terms of the VPA and ensure transparency, generating benefits for communities and clarifying the allocation of all timber rights.

In addition to these advances, Ghana is also addressing illegal logging in its domestic market, as well as regional trade and is rolling out a new system for tracking timber on the domestic market that involves both suppliers and traders, and requires proof of legality through the chain of custody.

Through the VPA, Ghana is controlling illegal timber trade, modernising timber operations and ensuring forestry brings employment in the formal economy and social benefits such as payments to communities through Social Responsibility Agreements. For the EU, the VPA contributes to achieving the goals of the EU’s FLEGT Action Plan which aims to improve forest governance and combat illegal logging.

Independent monitoring: a tool for good forest governance

14 September 2023

Since the start of the FLEGT VPA negotiations between the EU and the Republic of Congo, the involvement of local communities and indigenous peoples in decision-making bodies on forest governance has improved. The VPA encourages the involvement of civil society organisations in non-mandated independent monitoring of forest resource management.

Côte d’Ivoire and the European Union take another step towards signing an agreement to combat illegal logging

26 May 2023

On 25 May 2023, the European Union (EU) and Côte d’Ivoire held the second meeting of the pre-Joint Implementation Committee (pre-JIC) of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) in Abidjan. This Agreement will contribute to increase forest governance, tackle illegal logging and support Côte d’Ivoire’s efforts to improve the management of its natural resources.

Following the finalisation of the VPA negotiations and the initialling of the Agreement on 19 October 2022, and the first pre-JIC meeting on 24 October 2022, this second pre-JIC meeting represents an important milestone in the VPA process. Today’s discussions will provide an opportunity to consider the final preparations for the signing, scheduled for the end of 2023, and the implementation of the Agreement. The meeting was co-chaired by the Minister for Water and Forests and the Ambassador of the European Union.

Representatives of the EU and Côte d'Ivoire at the second pre-JIC meeting of the FLEGT VPA, 25 May 2023, Abidjan. — *Representatives of the EU and Côte d’Ivoire at the second pre-JIC meeting of the FLEGT VPA, 25 May 2023, Abidjan. Source: European Forest Institute*

To date, the VPA negotiations have catalysed a whole series of legal reforms to transform the way the Ivorian forestry sector is managed. Thirty-seven application texts for the 2019 Forestry Code have been published following a participatory and inclusive drafting process aimed at making the regulatory framework more complete and operational. The VPA also contributes to better integrating women in the management of forest resources.

With the signing of the Agreement fast approaching, the focus will now shift to its implementation. This includes setting up a verification system to guarantee legality and traceability of timber sold on the domestic Ivorian market, as well as on international markets, including the EU.

In addition to forest governance and the legality of timber, the implementation of the Agreement will contribute to an increase in revenue for the Ivorian State from a more competitive forestry sector. The implementation of the VPA will also contribute to sustainable forest management, which will make it possible to combat climate change more effectively.

Legal reforms for the future of Ivorian forests

20 April 2023

Since the beginning of the FLEGT VPA negotiations on trade in timber and timber products between the EU and Côte d’Ivoire, the country has implemented legal reforms to improve forest governance and fight illegal logging. Some of these reforms are beginning to bear fruit.

The Republic of the Congo and the EU report on their FLEGT VPA progress

21 December 2022

The Republic of the Congo and the European Union (EU) have released their joint annual report 2021 on the progress on the implementation of their Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT).

The VPA was signed in 2010 and aims to sustainably manage forests and ensure that all timber and derived products imported into the EU have been legally produced or acquired.

*Tropical rainforest in the north of the Republic of the Congo*

The report provides a detailed overview of the current Congolese forest sector. It also highlights that after 2020, which was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, VPA implementation activities resumed. The report describes progress on the legality assurance system, the evolution of forest regulations, the involvement of stakeholders, as well as the institutional structures, the monitoring and transparency of the Agreement.

The report was presented at the 16th meeting of the Joint Implementation Committee (JIC), held on 24 November in Brazzaville. The CCM is the body in charge of implementing and monitoring the VPA, and includes representatives of the Congolese administration, civil society and private sector, as well as the EU.

More information:

About the EU-Congo FLEGT VPA
Website of the EU-Congo FLEGT VPA
European Union-Republic of the Congo FLEGT VPA text and annexes
About Voluntary Partnership Agreements

Signing of the VPA. From the left to the right: Mr. Vickram Outar Bharrat - Minister of Natural Resources of Guyana; Mr. Jan Dusík - Deputy Minister of the Environment of the Czech Republic, EU presidency of the Council; Mr. Virginijus Sinkevičius - European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries.

The EU and Guyana sign an agreement on sustainable trade of legal timber

20 December 2022

On 15 December, the European Union and the Government of Guyana signed a legally binding trade agreement to promote sustainable trade of legal timber to the EU. The signing of this deal, known as a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT), took place at the 15 Biodiversity COP in Montreal.

The VPA will give EU-based timber buyers assurance that timber products from Guyana are legal. It will help improve forest governance, tackle illegal logging and promote trade in verified legal timber products. Through the implementation of the VPA, the country will improve market access for law-abiding businesses, as well as modernise its forestry sector, create jobs, promote sustainable development and protect the rights of indigenous peoples.

Under the VPA, Guyana commits to developing a timber legality assurance system to assess that timber products – for all stages of the supply chain – have been produced in accordance with national legislation. When this system is operational, Guyana can issue verified legal timber products with FLEGT licences. The licence certifies that the timber or timber products exported under that licence are legal.

Guyana is the first country in the Amazon region and the second in the Americas – following Honduras – to sign a VPA on forest law enforcement, governance and trade (FLEGT) with the European Union. The signature marks the end of a 10-year negotiation process, and consolidates Guyana’s position as a frontrunner in the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of forests.

Following the signing of the deal, Guyana and the EU each need to ratify the VPA, according to their respective procedures. Forest stakeholders as the private sector, indigenous peoples, local communities and civil society, have all been closely involved in the negotiation of the agreement, alongside with the Government and EU representatives. They will continue to play a key role throughout the implementation phase.

In parallel to the VPA, Guyana is also one of the first five countries worldwide that signed a Forest Partnership with the EU. The aim of such a partnership is to strengthen cooperation on forests and make an important contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including addressing the challenges of climate change.

River in the tropical rainforest of central Africa.

The Central African Republic and the EU report on their FLEGT VPA progress

12 December 2022

The Central African Republic (CAR) and the European Union (EU) have released their joint Report 2018-2021 on the progress on the implementation of their Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT).

The VPA was signed in 2011 and aims to sustainably manage forests and ensure that all timber and derived products imported into the EU have been legally produced or acquired.

The report provides an overview of the current Central African forest sector. It describes progress on the legality assurance system, the evolution of forest regulations, the involvement of stakeholders, as well as the institutional structures, the monitoring and transparency of the Agreement.

The publication of the report on the VPA implementation follows the publication, in July 2021, of the Report on the state of the forest-wood sector in the Central African Republic (2021). This publication aims to provide decision makers, development partners, researchers and the general public with a comprehensive source of information on the Central African forest sector.

More information:

Guyana and EU join forces to meet highest international standards on export of legal timber

2 November 2022

On 27 October 2022, representatives of Guyana and the European Union convened at a Pre-Joint Monitoring and Review Committee (Pre-JMRC) meeting, to review progress of the implementation of the Guyana-EU Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT). The Agreement will help improve forest governance and sustainable forestry and verify the trade in legal timber.

During the meeting, the Parties indicated they will endeavour to sign the Agreement before the end of 2022. The VPA will raise industry standards and living conditions of the sector. After Guyana and the EU sign and ratify the VPA, its commitments will become legally binding.

Representatives of Guyana and the EU at the Pre-Joint Monitoring and Review Committee (Pre-JMRC) meeting to review progress of the implementation of the Guyana-EU Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA). Source: EFI

According to René Van Nes, Ambassador of the European Union to Guyana, “the VPA spearheads Guyana as a global pioneer of sustainable forest management”.

The signature and subsequent ratification will mark the end of a 10-year negotiation process. Guyana will thereupon join a selected group of African, American and Asian countries committed to the protection of their forests. Guyana will become the first VPA country in the Amazon region, and the second in the Americas, after Honduras; making it a frontrunner in sustainable forest management, adhering to the highest international standards.

The Honorable Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Vickram Bharat, stated that “the Pre-JMRC meetings continue to highlight Guyana’s continued commitment to the VPA process and the broader initiatives to improve forest governance. He further stated that the VPA and the agreements reached are all part of the Government’s commitment under the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 aimed at promoting a green economy”.

The Parties agreed to focus their efforts on the further development and implementation of strengthened operational procedures for the sector, and a robust paper-based and digital traceability system of logs and timber that meets the VPA’s requirements. To ensure these priorities will be met in time, Guyana and the EU agreed on a detailed work plan.

The Parties also discussed how they will continue to engage with national and international stakeholders interested in VPA implementation. They committed to putting in place a range of tools to ensure that interested audiences can follow the developments and impacts of VPA implementation.

Representatives of the private sector and civil society, including indigenous peoples’ organisations, presented the issues they would like to bring to the table. Guyana and the EU also discussed next steps in the development of an approach to protect the traditional rights of Amerindian peoples.

Through the VPA’s implementation, Guyana will further strengthen the sustainable use of its forest resources, reduce illegal timber trade and better modernise timber operations, thereby ensuring that forestry brings green jobs in the formal economy. The VPA also includes commitments to improve transparency, accountability, legislative clarity and other aspects of governance.

Good governance of Guyana’s forests is crucial to sustainable development. Moreover, it helps both Guyana and the EU contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including by mitigating climate change and protecting biodiversity.

The next meeting of the Joint Monitoring and Review Committee is scheduled to take place in May 2023.

European Forest Institute

EU and Côte d’Ivoire conclude negotiations on an agreement to combat illegal logging

19 October 2022

On 19 October 2022, the European Union (EU) and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire concluded negotiations for a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT). The Agreement will help improve forest governance, fight against illegal logging and support Côte d’Ivoire’s efforts to improve the management of its natural resources.

The conclusion of the negotiations celebrated on 19 October materialises with the initialling, an administrative procedure that confirms that both parties adhere to the content of the Agreement. The next step for Côte d’Ivoire and the EU will be to sign and then ratify the VPA, thus making its commitments legally binding.

Initialling of the EU – Côte d’Ivoire FLEGT VPA by M. Laurent Tchagba, Ivorian Water and Forests Minister, and M. Koen Doens, Director-General for International Partnerships at the European Commission. Source: European Forest Institute

Initiated in 2013, the VPA negotiations have been very participatory, including representatives of civil society organisations, the private sector, Ivorian ministries and government agencies, and traditional chiefs.

So far, these negotiations have helped Côte d’Ivoire to implement important legal and policy reforms in the forest sector. This includes recognising the property rights of farmers and landowners, and strengthening requirements for forest planning, management and traceability. The VPA also contributes to a better integration of women in forest resources management.

With the signature in sight, the emphasis will shift to implementing the Agreement. The VPA will put in place a traceability system to ensure that all timber traded on the Ivorian domestic market, as well as international markets, is legal. This includes trade with the EU, but also regional timber trade.

Besides forest governance and timber legality, the VPA will also contribute to better forest management, transparency and accountability in the sector. This will help in the fight against climate change and increase the Ivorian state’s revenue from a more competitive forestry industry.

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