The Government of Liberia and the European Union (EU) are expected to hold the 8th session of the Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) meeting in Monrovia slated for November 24-26, 2020.
At the meeting, the status of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement, striving for the enhancement of Liberia’s forest governance, will be reviewed.
The JIC is the highest-level oversight (tool/mechanism) for the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) signed between Liberia and the EU in 2012 and later ratified by the national legislature in 2013.
The VPA was designed to address illegal logging, improve the law enforcement and forest governance and promote trade in legal timber products.
VPA addresses the economic, social and environmental concerns of all stakeholders: from government, private sector and civil society. They were represented in the negotiation and are present during the implementation of the agreement
Under the agreement, Liberia will ensure that its timber exports are legally corroborated before being shipped for the EU and other international markets.
The three-day event is expected to bring together stakeholders working in the forestry sector of Liberia, including civil society groups, representatives from the private sector and communities.
They will all be deliberating on pertinent issues bordering on the status of the forest governance in Liberia.
Liberia forests and biodiversity remained challenging as illegal activities relating to logging, hunting and mining continue to hamper the sector.
Senior government officials from relevant ministries and agencies are also expected to grace this event.
EU Ambassador to Liberia, His Excellency Laurent Delahousse and FDA Board Chair Hon. Harrison S. Karnwea, Sr. will chair and co-chair these meetings respectively, consistent with the standing tradition.
At the close of the meeting, both sides are expected to sign and aide memoire renewing their commitment to strengthen Liberia’s forest governance and the VPA processes.
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