Mid-term review of the EU Forest Strategy

The progress in the implementation of the EU Forest Strategy

The recommendations of the opinion by Ossi Martikainen on the EU Forest Strategy are not totally taken up by the Midterm review and this opinion serves as a follow-up to it

Mid-term review of the Forest Strategy

Martikainen looks at the implementation of the EU Forest Strategy and added to its review; his report provides the opportunity to mainstream adaptation to climate change into existing policies and financing tools and calls on the Commission to offer appropriate empowerment options to regions and cities. Forests cover 40% of total EU area and consist of a key resource for improving quality of life and job creation, particularly in rural areas.

The original report was adopted at the CoR Plenary in May 2018 and its follow-up in April 2019.

2019

August

Portuguese online agricultural news Agricultura et Mar covers Martikainen’s report. 

20 May

Public hearing on “The EU’s forest strategy: fit for purpose?” of the European Economic and Social Committee. The NAT Section debated on the EU Forest Strategy and the way forward with representatives from the EU institutions and civil society stakeholders, with a view of providing input to the preparation of the EESC opinion on this topic. Mr Ossi Martikainen, Committee of the Regions, Chair of the NAT commission and rapporteur of the Committee of the Regions’ opinion on the Mid-term review of the EU Forest Strategy and Implementation of the EU Forest Strategy presented his opinion.

13 – 14 May

Seminar of the Natural Resources Committee under the presidency of Ossi Martikainen as chair on the implementation of the EU forest strategy for a sustainable way of living in our cities and regions in Szombathelyi, Hungary.

April

Ossi Martikainen, CoR rapporteur on the Implementation of the EU Forest Strategy endorses the request of the Council asking the Commission to develop a new EU forest strategy post 2020.

“I’m pleased by this request, as this is shared by the European Committee of the Regions. This new updated forest strategy needs to have an even stronger guiding role. This may require a reassessment of the way in which the budget is allocated. I call on the Commission to ensure that Member States, regions and forestry experts, research institutions and organisations are sufficiently represented in this process, in order to achieve the desired outcomes and to make that process inclusive.”

Finnish media cover the adoption of Martikainen’s opinion after the European Committee of the Regions plenary session of April 2019.

4 April

The European Committee of the Regions calls on the Commission to examine whether the current management of forest issues and the approach to such issues, as well as resources in the EU, are adequate and up-to-date. In an opinion drawn up by member of Lapinlahti Municipal Council Ossi Martikainen (FI/ALDE), the Committee stresses that forests have a key role to play in the development of Europe’s bioeconomy and biodiversity, as well as in the transition to a low-carbon, green economy.

Early 2019

At a EUSTAFOR (the European State Forest Association, which represents state forest companies, enterprises and agencies that have sustainable forest management and sustainable wood production as major concerns) round table meeting in Brussels about the coherence between forest-related policies in the EU and the role of the EU Forest Strategy our rapporteur Ossi Martikainen presented his CoR opinions. He outlined several policy recommendations, such as improving EU level coordination of policies with an impact on forestry, the role of local and regional authorities and the importance of the forestry sector for the rural areas.

2018

13 November

Participation of rapporteur Martikainen in Bioregions 2018 Forum – Vision, approaches and experiences in the forest circular bioeconomy in Barcelona, Spain.

10 October

9 October

Exchange of views with the ALDE Group’s Ulrike Müller MEP , discussing Forest Strategy in the EU.

22 May 

Finnish media Savon Sanomat covers Martikainen’s report

18 May Finnish blog Ekofokus zooms in on Martikainen’s report.

13 – 14 May

Conference on the Implementation of the EU Forest Strategy for a sustainable way of living in our cities and regions. This followed after an invitation of Mr. Laszlo Majthényi (President of the General Assembly of Vas County – Hungary, after which the NAT Commission organised this conference in Szombathelyi, Hungary with Ossi Martikainen as chair.

22 January

First discussion in the NAT Commission on the opinion. Martikainen focuses on the proper management of the renewable national resource that are forests and the need to talk more about the role of forests from the perspective of local levels as ownership is an important question, as the competence lies within the member states.

2017

December  Appointment of rapporteur