Over 40% of member states below EUTR par
18 August 2014A scorecard just issued by the European Commission shows that 12 out of 28 EU member states have still not fulfilled their EU Timber Regulation implementation obligations, 16 months after the measure was introduced.
Subsequently, the EU Environment Directorate-General has threatened to take "infringement" procedures against countries which do not take the necessary steps.
The document (ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/scoreboard.pdf) uses cartoon trees, in various state of health, to indicate whether three key implementation obligations are fullfilled, in the process of being fulfilled, or yet to be tackled at all. The three obligations are appointment of an enforcement agency or competent authority, establishment of a penalty regime, and actual checking of companies compliance with the Regulation's legal requirements.
Worst performance, with three withered trees indicating it has not started on fulfilling any obligations, is Hungary, followed by Poland, with one withered tree for failing to start the process for checking companies, and two half-leafless trees for appointment of a competent authority and setting out penalties. Third worst is Croatia, which has failed to start checking procedures.
Next with three 'in process' indicators are Spain and Malta, while France, Greece, Italy and Romania have two and Slovenia, Latvia and Luxembourg have one.
The scorecard followed letters sent earlier this year to member states by EC environment director-general Karl Falkenberg, requesting information on EUTR implementation.
At the time, the EU Commission also said an EUTR "enforcement group" had been established to follow up with countries that do not step up their implementation process. This message has now been reinforced to TTJ by Commission spokesperson Andreja Skerl.
"The Commission is determined to ensure rapid progress in EUTR implementation," she said. "Measures include pilot actions to communicate and clarify conformity of national legislation with EUTR [two of which are reported to be under way], and subsequently launching infringement procedures if necessary."
European Timber Trade Federation secretary-general André de Boer expressed disappointment at the scorecard results.
"It is vital for effective and fair operation of the Regulation that it is strictly and uniformly enforced and disturbing that it is not," he said. "It is bad for the industry's reputation and that ultimately will be bad for business."
