On the draft Council decision on the termination of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Liberia on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union

(14569/2025 – C100299/2025 – 2025/0259(NLE))

(Consent)

The European Parliament,

–having regard to the draft Council decision (14569/2025),

–having regard to the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Liberia on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union,

–having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Articles 207(4) first subparagraph and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a)(v), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C100299/2025),

–having regard to its non-legislative resolution of ... on the draft decision,

–having regard to Rule 107(1) and (4) and Rule 117(7) of its Rules of Procedure,

–having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Development,

–having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on International Trade (A10-0133/2026),

1.Gives its consent to the termination of the agreement;

2.Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of the Republic of Liberia.

The Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) between the European Union and the Republic of Liberia on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union (FLEGT) entered into force on 1 December 2013. The rapporteur regrets that Liberia has not been able to honour its VPA. While the rapporteur believes that FLEGT VPAs provide an important legal framework for both the EU and its partner countries, they can only work properly when both sides are willing to cooperate and to adhere to their commitments. In the present case, the rapporteur believes that the best alternative is to terminate the agreement.

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that she included in her report input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that she received, in the preparation of the report, prior to the adoption thereof in committee, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur declares that she has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament's Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.

28.4.2026

for the Committee on International Trade

on the draft Council decision on the termination of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Liberia on Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade in timber products to the European Union

(14569/2025 – C100299/2025 – 2025/0259(NLE))

Rapporteur for opinion: Barry Andrews

The Committee on Development calls on the Committee on International Trade, as the committee responsible, to recommend approval of the draft Council decision on the termination of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Liberia on Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade in timber products to the European Union.

The Chair in his capacity as rapporteur for opinion declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not include in his opinion input from interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies, to be listed in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.