COUNCIL DECISION of 29 May 1989 setting up a Standing Forestry Committee (89/367/EEC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Articles 43, 130s and 235 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),

Whereas Community efforts to decrease the output of agricultural products which are in surplus must be accompanied by effective measures to improve agricultural structures;

Whereas in this context the forestry sector must make a major contribution both to creating alternative sources of agricultural income and to the development of forest ecosystems which are favourable to agriculture;

Whereas the Community's woodland resources are subject to a number of threats which risk jeopardizing the fulfilment of their economic, environmental and social functions;

Whereas, moreover, the various Community policies affect the forestry sector and its role in the context of agricultural structure and rural development policy;

Whereas close and constant cooperation between the Member States and the Commission including in particular a permanent exchange of information between the Member States on forestry situations and developments and the various Community policies affecting the forestry sector is an appropriate instrument for maintaining the effectiveness of forestry measures taken in the context of the agricultural structure and rural development policy;

Whereas the most effective way of achieving such cooperation is to set up a Standing Committee composed of representatives of each of the Member States and chaired by a representative of the Commission.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

In order to ensure closer and more constant cooperation in the forestry sector between the Member States and the Commission and thereby support forestry measures initiated under the Community agricultural structure and rural development policy, a Standing Forestry Committee, hereinafter referred to as 'the committee' is hereby set up.

Article 2

1. Taking account of Member States' forestry policies and measures and programmes relating thereto, of the role of the forestry sector in the context of agricultural structure and rural development policy and of the links between the forestry sector and the various Community policies, the Member States shall keep each other and the Commission informed, within the committee, of the situation and

developments in the forestry sector and the relevant policies.

2. The Commission may consult the committee on any issue or aspect concerning the forestry sector arising from the various Community policies either on its own initiative or at the request of the representative of a Member State.

3. The Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, may assign other duties to the committee in connection with Community measures affecting the forestry sector.

Article 3

The committee shall be composed of the representatives of the Member States. It shall be chaired by a representative of the Commission.

The committee's secretariat shall be provided by the Commission.

The committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure.

Article 4

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 29 May 1989.

For the Council

The President

C. ROMERO HERRERA

(1) OJ No C 312, 7. 12. 1988, p. 11.

(2) Opinion delivered on 26 May 1989 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(3) OJ No C 139, 5. 6. 1989, p. 15.