DIALOGUE EU-MINFOF ON THE PROJECT TO RENOUNCE THE VOLUNTARY PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (VPA-FLEGT) SUBMITTED BY THE EUROPEAN PARTY

• Date de Publication : 2024-10-15

Following the publication on the website of the Official Journal of the European Commission dated October 2, 2024, the Minister of Forests and Wildlife, Mr. Jules Doret NDONGO, received a team from the European Union Delegation led by the Ambassador, Head of the Delegation, His Excellency Mr. Jean-Marc CHATAIGNIER, on Monday, October 14, 2024, at precisely 2:30 PM in the Conference Room of MINFOF.

Accompanied by his closest collaborators, the Minister of Forests and Wildlife addressed the only item on the agenda, namely, the EU's expressed intention to renounce the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA-FLEGT) with the Republic of Cameroon. According to the European Union, this renunciation would be the result, among other factors, of the deterioration of governance in the forestry sector over the past 10 years, particularly the absence of FLEGT authorizations or licenses; that continuing the VPA could harm the EU's credibility as a global leader in matters related to forest protection and biodiversity, thereby undermining the VPA as a trade instrument; and that, therefore, based on Article 27 of the said agreement, the Council's decision proposal regarding the renunciation, rather than denunciation, of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on the application of forestry regulations, governance, and trade in timber and derived products to the European Union was formalized by the European party.

Through constructive exchanges between the two parties, a plethora of proposals allowed for the continuity of bilateral collaboration. Although some legal prerequisites were not met, it is envisioned, beyond the issue of renouncing the VPA, to negotiate with partner countries for a new "forest partnership" that would be less constraining than the VPA regime. His Excellency Mr. Jean-Marc CHATAIGNIER expressed his desire to continue collaboration with Cameroon while ensuring that audits will continue. He reassured that the draft decision to renounce the Agreement, of which the English version expresses this idea more clearly, will be corrected in the French version and then published on the website of the Official Journal of the European Union. Therefore, all regulatory, legislative, and conventional frameworks remain in effect for the time being. To achieve this "forest partnership" project, the Minister of Forests and Wildlife specified that he first needed the high-level authorizations from the competent authorities, as it is crucial to know the content of what Cameroon will commit to.

Cameroon is aware of its international commitments regarding sustainable forest management. Like all countries around the world, it faces climate change and its disastrous consequences in various areas (agriculture, health, etc.), and is happy to participate in this collective fight by doing everything possible against desertification, which is a permanent and vital project, as the Minister emphasized.