P10_TA(2025)0241Standing Forest and Forestry Expert GroupAmendments adopted by the European Parliament on 21 October 2025 on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Decision 89/367/EEC setting up a Standing Forestry Committee (COM(2023)0727 – C9-0424/2023 – 2023/0410(COD)) The matter was referred back for interinstitutional negotiations to the committee responsible, pursuant to Rule 60(4), fourth subparagraph (A10-0175/2025).(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)Text proposed by the CommissionAmendmentAmendment 1Proposal for a decisionRecital 1 a (new)

(1a)The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) makes no reference to a common Union forest policy and, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, the responsibility for forests lies with Member States. However, the TFEU confers on the Union shared competences, notably in the area of environment, which can include initiatives affecting forests and forestry.

Amendment 2Proposal for a decisionRecital 2

(2)The wider contribution of forests to the objectives set out in the Commission Communication of 11 December 2019 entitled ‘the European Green Deal’ 4 , including to climate, biodiversity and sustainable bioeconomy necessitates a more inclusive and better coordinated Union forest governance structure that reflects all the objectives of the Commission Communication of 16 July 2021 entitled ‘New EU Forest Strategy for 2030’ 5 and their interlinkages.

(2)The contribution of forests to the objectives set out in the Commission Communication of 11 December 2019 entitled ‘the European Green Deal’ 4 , notably to climate, biodiversity as well as to bioeconomy necessitates a coordinated Union forest governance structure that reflects, inter alia, the objectives of the Commission Communication of 16 July 2021 entitled ‘New EU Forest Strategy for 2030’ 5 and their interlinkages, while making sure that those new goals have a clear legal basis, do not conflict with national competences and are supported by a comprehensive assessment of their impact on the forestry sector.

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4 COM(2019)640 final.

5 COM(2021)527 final.

Amendment 3Proposal for a decisionRecital 2 a (new)

(2a)The Standing Forestry Committee has, since its establishment, evolved into a central body for exchange of information among Member States and with the Commission on all aspects relating to forests, forest management and all forest-related policy areas. The Standing Forestry Committee had previously also been given comitology tasks, but the basic act conferring those comitology tasks on the Standing Forestry Committee has since expired. The Standing Forestry Committee should therefore be renamed as the Standing Forest and Forestry Expert Group (the ‘expert group’).

Amendment 4Proposal for a decisionRecital 4

(4)The most effective way of achieving a more inclusive and better coordinated Union forest governance structure is to broaden the scope and clarify the tasks and the composition of the Standing Forestry Committee.. The Standing Forestry Committee should also be renamed as the Standing Forest and Forestry Expert Group, in order to reflect those amendments. At the request of the Commission or of a Member State, it should address any issue or aspect concerning forests and forestry arising from various Union policies. It is therefore appropriate to ensure that Member States nominate representatives from the authorities that are competent for the specific policy objectives.

(4)At the request of the Commission or of a Member State, the expert group should address any aspect concerning forests and forestry arising from various Union policies. It is therefore appropriate that participating representatives are able to represent the Member States interests on all relevant policy objectives.

Amendment 5Proposal for a decisionArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2Council Decision 89/367/EECArticle 1 – paragraph 1

In order to ensure a reinforced cooperation and multidisciplinary exchange between the Commission and the Member States on forests and the forestry sector in relation to all forest-relevant Union policy areas, a Standing Forest and Forestry Expert Group, hereinafter referred to as “the expert group”, is hereby set up.;

In order to ensure a close and effective cooperation between the Commission and the Member States on forests and the forestry sector in relation to all forest-relevant Union policy areas, a standing Forest and Forestry Expert Group (the “expert group”), is hereby set up.

Amendment 6Proposal for a decisionArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3Council Decision 89/367/EECArticle 2 – paragraph 1

1.The Commission may consult the expert group on any issue or aspect concerning forests and forestry arising from the various Union policies either on its own initiative or at the request of the representative of a Member State.

1.The expert group shall advise the Commission on any issue or aspect concerning forests and forestry arising from the various relevant Union policies either on its own initiative or at the request of the representative of a Member State.

Amendment 7Proposal for a decisionArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 Council Decision 89/367/EECArticle 2 – paragraph 2 – point a

(a)to assist the Commission in the preparation of legislative proposals, guidelines or other Union policy initiatives relevant to forests and forestry, including in the implementation of the New EU Forest Strategy for 2030 and subsequent Union Forest Strategies;

(a)to assist and closely cooperate with, and to provide expertise and input to, the Commission in the preparation and implementation of legislative proposals, strategies, communications, guidelines or other Union policy initiatives relevant to forests and forestry, or that would have significant impact on forests or forestry within the Union;

Amendment 8Proposal for a decisionArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3Council Decision 89/367/EECArticle 2 – paragraph 2 – point b

(b)to provide the Commission with advice and expertise, either on the initiative of the Commission or at the request of a Member State, with a view to supporting the wider contribution of forests and forestry to key Union objectives and initiatives, such as the European Green Deal, and to promoting coherence and synergies between Union policies relevant to forests and forestry;

(b)to provide the Commission with advice and expertise, either on the initiative of the Commission or the expert group, or at the request of a Member State, with a view to ensuring an adequate contribution of Member States’ forestry sector to Union objectives and initiatives, to promoting coherence and synergies as well as to eliminating existing inconsistencies between Union policies, and to addressing their cumulative impact and their compatibility with the subsidiarity and proportionality principles enshrined in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union;

Amendment 9Proposal for a decisionArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3Council Decision 89/367/EECArticle 2 – paragraph 2 – point c

(c)to promote cooperation between the Commission and the Member States on forests and forestry, including in support of measures and interventions under the common agricultural policy;

(c)to enhance and boost cooperation between the Commission and the Member States on forests and forestry, including in support of measures and interventions under the common agricultural policy, notably to take into account aspects of sustainability and create synergies between forests and agriculture, as well as to enhance the socio-economic development of forest-dominant rural areas;

Amendment 10Proposal for a decisionArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3Council Decision 89/367/EECArticle 2 – paragraph 2 – point d

(d)to foster the exchange of knowledge, experience and good practices in the field of forests and forestry.

(d)to foster the exchange of knowledge, experience and good practices, as well as acting as a forum for exchange of views on emerging issues and initiatives in the field of forests and forestry, and on the multiple functions of forests, including issues relevant to the wider forest-based sector, as well as to foster the exchange of views on applicability and implications of Union’s policies relevant to forests and forestry;

Amendment 11Proposal for a decisionArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3Council Decision 89/367/EECArticle 2 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)

(da)to seek and cooperate on synergies and avoid conflicts between national and Union policies related to forests and forestry, also taking into account other international developments;

Amendment 12Proposal for a decisionArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3Council Decision 89/367/EECArticle 2 – paragraph 2 – point d b (new)

(db)to formulate opinions on legislative proposals, strategies, communications, guidelines or other Union policy initiatives relevant to forests and forestry, or that would have significant impact on forests or forestry within the Union; the Commission shall take those opinions in consideration when advancing forest-related policy objectives, and shall provide feedback on how it has taken into consideration those opinions.

Amendment 13Proposal for a decisionArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3Council Decision 89/367/EECArticle 2 – paragraph 3

3.The European Parliament and the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, may assign other tasks to the expert group in connection with Union policies affecting forests and forestry.

3.The European Parliament and the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, may assign other temporary tasks to the expert group in connection with Union policies affecting forests and forestry.

Amendment 14Proposal for a decisionArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4Council Decision 89/367/EECArticle 3 – paragraph 1

The expert group shall be composed of representatives of the Member States.

The expert group shall be composed of representatives of the Member States. Each Member State shall be invited and shall be strongly encouraged to designate national experts and to facilitate their participation in the meetings of the expert group.

Amendment 15Proposal for a decisionArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4Council Decision 89/367/EECArticle 3 – paragraph 2

Member States shall nominate their representatives, ensuring participation of the authorities that are competent for the different policy objectives of the New EU Forest Strategy for 2030, including inter alia climate, forest health, environment, forestry, rural development and bioeconomy and any subsequent Union forest strategies.

Member States shall nominate their representatives, ensuring active engagement of their relevant authorities and that participating representatives are able to represent their respective Member State’s interests and experience on all relevant policy objectives.

Amendment 16Proposal for a decisionArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4Council Decision 89/367/EECArticle 3 – paragraph 3

The expert group shall be chaired by a representative of the Commission.

The expert group shall be chaired by a representative of the Commission. The chair of the expert group may present its annual working plan to the European Parliament.