Text tabled : A7-0280/2011

  Vito Bonsignore (PPE), in writing. – (IT) I voted in favour of the report by Mr Moreira because I agree that we need to confirm the 2006 international agreement on tropical timber, which has a duration of 10 years, but which is subject to review every five years. The agreement concluded between producers and consumers has the merit of promoting the expansion and diversification of international trade in tropical timber from sustainably managed and legally harvested forests. Moreover, it provides for effective structures for management, international cooperation and policy development with regard to the various relevant aspects of the world timber economy. We must now focus our attention on the sustainable management of tropical forests and the restoration of forest areas that have been degraded, including by involving citizens and Member States through awareness-raising and educational campaigns. Indeed, one need only think that an area of forest the size of Greece disappears each year, threatening irreplaceable biodiversity with extinction. Lastly, the agreement aims to ensure a credible licensing scheme, sets out an Action Plan for Forest Law Enforcement and establishes measures designed to create multilateral partnerships.