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Internal and External Dimensions of EU Forest Policy Design

Environmental Policy
European Politics
European Union
Policy Analysis
Pauline Pirlot
Université catholique de Louvain
Pauline Pirlot
Université catholique de Louvain

Abstract

This contribution explores and explains the way EU forest-related policies build upon each other to create a de facto EU forest policy. European Union (EU) Treaties do not make provision for a common forest policy. The EU nonetheless developed a large array of forest policies, intertwined internally and externally. They rely on other competences such as trade, environment or agriculture, and they consider forests respectively as an economic, environmental or agricultural means. Internally, the EU adopted a rather broad Forest Strategy, providing general lines to be followed. Externally, the EU expresses precise forest-related objectives through its participation in various international fora dealing with forestry as well as through bilateral agreements with third countries. This paper outlines the emerging implicit network between forest-related policies within EU competences. It explains the way internal and external EU forest policies interact, leading the EU to grasp and frame the forest issue from a forest perspective. The example of EU Forest Action Plan will be taken analyzed as a case study, seizing forestry issues through trade policies. The EU Forest Action Plan covers both internal and external measures leading to the development of what looks like an EU forest policy.