The EU Delegation in Ukraine has announced its stance on the wood export ban. According to the EU's representatives its position on the matter has been one-sidedly reported in mass media, which casts it in a negative light. The official stance of the EU Delegation is given in detail on the organisation's offical Facebook page.
According the EU Delegation's message, EU opposes the current wood ban since despite the wood ban the illegal logging and smuggling of the wood are still taking place in Ukraine.
"The reason is that the current ban on the export of wood does not achieve these goals. It simply serves the needs of some vested interests in the wood processing industry, allowing them to get exclusive and unrestricted access to forestry resources in order to exploit them for themselves. The ban is not preventing deforestation. And it does not prevent illegal logging or smuggling of wood as these illegal activities become more profitable. The EU would strongly support higher penalties for such crimes and more effective enforcement actions in this field", says the EU Delegation in Ukraine in its official message.
EU's representatives are of the opinion that the export ban is against Ukraine's international commitments under the World Trade Organisation and the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.
"Free trade agreements, which generate economic growth and jobs for both parties, mean equal access to each other's' markets. The EU is opening its Single Market to Ukraine, offering massive opportunities to Ukrainian companies, and Ukraine is expected to do the same for the EU. We have been working with the Ukrainian authorities to find a solution which strikes a fair balance between permitting fair and equal access to natural resources, promoting trade, investment and economic development, and protecting the valuable and unique natural resources of Ukraine", concludes the organisation.