Press Release: The EU and Côte d’Ivoire are to launch negotiations on partnership to fight illegal logging

The European Union and Côte d'Ivoire announced on 13 June 2013 that they will launch negotiations of a new trade agreement to combat illegal logging. This scourge affects millions of poor people who depend on forests for their livelihoods, deprives governments of billions of euros every year and the associated deforestation worsens climate change. The Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) that will be negotiated is a legally-binding agreement, designed to set up control and licencing systems to ensure that all timber imported to the EU from Côte d'Ivoire has been produced legally.

• Primary Source

EurActiv, 02.07.13: Côte d'Ivoire cracks down on illegal wood bound for EU http://www.euractiv.com/development-policy/cote-divoire-cracks-illegal-wood-news-529007

---