MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The European Union (EU) has confirmed its intention to terminate the Voluntary Partnership Agreement it signed with Liberia.

The EU Ambassador to Liberia, Nona Deprez, affirmed that the decision when she appeared on the ELBC Super Morning Show on Tuesday, November 5,2024.

Ambassador Deprez maintained that after eleven years, not much progress has been made in the implementation of the Agreement, thus rendering the instrument outdated.

Among other things, the EU Ambassador expressed concern that after eleven years of collaborative work Liberia, the first Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) License has not been issued.

The FLEGT License confirms that timber meant for export from Liberia to the EU and other markets was legally sourced.

Ambassador Deprez, however, disclosed that the interest of the EU in working on other aspects of forest management that not covered by the VPA such preservation and conservation of biodiversity.

Liberia and EU signed the Voluntary Partnership Agreement as a mutually binding agreement to ensure that timber export from Liberia to EU markets are certified as legally sourced.

By: Anthony Vanwen