9 years of EU trade agreements based on forest law enforcement, reduced corruption, better governanc

[pampango]

Trade deals with a social conscience

When the EU adopted a revolutionary approach to negotiating trade agreements in 2003, the event passed largely unnoticed. The Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan set out to create legally binding agreements between the EU and timber producing countries with an in-built focus on improved governance, reduced corruption and reforms in forest laws. Where negotiations have been successfully concluded, civil society has demonstrated unprecedented support for the resulting agreements. When a broad base of stakeholders is onboard right at the start of the process, the agreements are far more likely to stick.

Ghana became the first country to sign a legally binding FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreement with the EU in 2008. Known as a VPA, the agreement sets out a definition for legal timber which is specific to that country, not decreed by the EU but agreed within Ghana by a host of interest groups including the timber industry, civil society representatives and government.

Five countries have since followed suit, each creating a bespoke definition of legality tailored to the interests of that country, its society and its industry. In Liberia, for example, communities were uniquely involved in VPA negotiations through direct representatives, and the government cracked down on loopholes in the logging laws which came to light. In the Republic of Congo, the passing of a new law on indigenous peoples' rights became a condition of signing the VPA.

The financial incentive for timber-producing countries to fully implement a VPA lies in easy access to the European markets. In March next year the EU timber regulation will make it illegal to trade in illegally-sourced forest products within the European market. Timber importers could find it difficult to demonstrate the legality of their product, but FLEGT-licensed timber will get an automatic green light.

http://euobserver.com/opinion/117685

"When the EU adopted a revolutionary approach to negotiating trade agreements in 2003, the event passed largely unnoticed." - I certainly had never heard of this before.

I like the idea that the EU didn't just say "Comply with our rules or we will lock you out." They negotiated with civil society in each country to achieve "unprecedented support for the resulting agreements. When a broad base of stakeholders is onboard right at the start of the process, the agreements are far more likely to stick."

This agreement focused on timber and the forestry industry, but the concept could be applied to many other important international issues. Strengthening civil society in these countries can have a long-term impact way beyond the timber industry or any other specific industry.

[xchrom]

1. Du rec. Nt

[porphyrian]

2. . n/t

[mopinko]

3. trade agreements CAN be a great thing.

depends on who is in the driver's seat. trusting obama to steer well through ttp.