(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the draft Council decision (11964/2007),

–   having regard to the draft International Tropical Timber Agreement, 2006 (11964/2007),

–   having regard to Articles 133, 175 and 300(2), first subparagraph, first sentence of the EC Treaty,

–   having regard to Article 300(3), first subparagraph, of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C6-0326/2007),

–   having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs on the proposed legal basis,

–   having regard to Rules 51, 83(7) and 35 of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on International Trade (A6-0313/2008),

1.  Approves the draft Council decision as amended and approves conclusion of the agreement;

2.  Reserves the right to defend its prerogatives as conferred by the Treaty;

3.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission, and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and to the secretariat of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO).

Text proposed by the Council   Amendments by Parliament Amendment 1 Citation 1 Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 133 and 175 thereof, read in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 300 (3) thereof, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 133 and 175 thereof, read in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) and the second subparagraph of Article 300 (3) thereof, Amendment 2 Recital 4 (4)  The objectives of the new Agreement are consistent with both the common commercial policy and the environmental policy. (4)  The objectives of the new Agreement should be consistent with both the common commercial policy and environmental and development policies. Amendment 3 Recital 7 a (new) (7a)  The Commission should submit to the European Parliament and the Council an annual report with an analysis of the implementation of the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 2006 and of measures to minimise the negative impact of trade on tropical forests, including bilateral agreements concluded pursuant to the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) programme. Article 33 of the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 2006 provides for an evaluation of the implementation of this Agreement five years after its entry into force. In the light of this provision, the Commission should forward to the Parliament and the Council a review of the functioning of the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 2006 by the end of 2010. Amendment 4 Recital 7 b (new) (7b)  When drafting the negotiating mandate for the revision of the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 2006, the Commission should propose that the current text be revised, placing the protection and sustainable management of tropical forests and the restoration of forest areas that have been degraded at the heart of the agreement, stressing the importance of education and information policy in the countries affected by the problem of deforestation in order to enhance public awareness of the negative consequences of exploiting timber resources in an abusive manner. Trade in tropical timber should only be encouraged to the extent compatible with these prior objectives. Amendment 5 Recital 7 c (new) (7c)  In particular, this mandate for the revision of the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 2006 should propose a voting mechanism for the International Tropical Timber Council that clearly rewards the conservation and sustainable use of tropical forests. Amendment 6 Recital 7 d (new) (7d)  The Commission should by October 2008 at the latest: (a) propose a comprehensive legislative proposal that prevents the placing of timber and timber products derived from illegal and destructive sources on the market; (b) present a Communication determining the EU's involvement and support for current and future global funding mechanisms for promoting forest protection and reducing emissions from deforestation under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)/Kyoto Protocol. The Communication should outline the EU's commitment to provide funds to help developing countries protect their forests, finance a network of protected areas and promote economic alternatives to forest destruction. In particular, in order to ensure real benefits for the climate, biodiversity and people, it should outline the minimum principles and criteria that these instruments should adhere to. It should also identify priority actions and priority areas which should receive immediate funding under these incentive mechanisms.