HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"L 320/2
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
3.12.2011
COUNCIL DECISION
of 14 November 2011
on the signing of a Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Central
African Republic on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products
to the European Union (FLEGT)
(2011/790/EU)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
governance and trade in timber and derived products to
the European Union (hereinafter referred to as ‘the
Agreement’) was initialled on 21 December 2010.
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
Union, and in particular the first subparagraph of
Article 207(3), in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof,
(5) The Agreement should be signed subject to its
conclusion,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Whereas:
Article 1
(1) In
May
2003
the
European
Commission
adopted
a
Communication to the European Parliament and to the
The signing of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between
Council entitled ‘Forest law enforcement, governance and
the European Union and the Central African Republic on forest
trade (FLEGT): proposal for an EU action plan’ which
law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived
called for measures to address illegal logging through
products to the European Union (hereinafter ‘FLEGT’) is hereby
the development of voluntary partnership agreements
authorised on behalf of the Union, subject to the conclusion of
with timber-producing countries. Council conclusions
the said Agreement ( 4 ).
on that Action Plan were adopted in October 2003 ( 1 )
and the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the
subject on 11 July 2005 (
Article 2

2 ).
The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate
the person empowered to sign the Agreement on behalf of the
(2) On
5
December
2005
the
Council
authorised
the
Commission to open negotiations on partnership
Union subject to its conclusion.
agreements to implement the FLEGT.
Article 3
(3) On
20
December
2005
the
Council
adopted
Regulation This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
(EC) No 2173/2005 ( 3 ) which established a FLEGT
licensing scheme for imports of timber into the Union
from countries with which the Union has concluded
voluntary partnership agreements.
Done at Brussels, 14 November 2011.
(4) The
negotiations
with
the
Central
African
Republic
have
For the Council
been concluded, and the Voluntary Partnership
Agreement between the European Union and the
The President
Central African Republic on forest law enforcement,
M. SAWICKI
( 1 ) OJ C 268, 7.11.2003, p. 1.
( 2 ) OJ C 157 E, 6.7.2006, p. 482.
( 4 ) The text of the Agreement will be published together with the
( 3 ) OJ L 347, 30.12.2005, p. 1.
Decision on its conclusion.

---