Illegal logging in India

3.3.2011

Question for written answer E-002333/2011
to the Commission
Rule 117
Elisabeth Köstinger (PPE)

Illegal logging is a widespread problem in India, penetrating public administration and leading to corruption among civil servants. Each year large quantities of illegally felled timber are exported from India. Local environmental activists and journalists risk life and limb to draw attention to this terrible practice — there are often attempts to injure or kill them.

A voluntary FLEGT agreement was recently signed with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon. The aim was to guarantee that only legally sourced timber and timber products are sold in the EU.

1. Is the Commission aware of the problem of illegal logging in India?

2. How will the Commission raise these issues during the ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement with India and how will they be included in the negotiating text?

3. How do the Commission and India plan to step up efforts in the fight against illegal logging?

4. In the context of a free trade agreement between the EU and India, how can imports of illegally felled timber be prevented from reaching Europe?

5. Is there an ‘opt-out’ for the timber trade with India, if guarantees do not exist that the timber being traded was felled legally?

OJ C 294 E, 06/10/2011