The European Parliament has published a study requested by the Committee on International Trade (INTA) and coordinated by the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA).

“Voluntary Partnership Agreements: Strategic relevance, implementation challenges and future pathways in the EU’s forest governance and trade policy” is authored by Prof Fabio SANTERAMO, Professor, University of Foggia, European University Institute.

Coordination was managed by TEPSA Project Officer, Ana LELADZE.

Abstract

This paper evaluates the European Union’s (EU) Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) framework in promoting legal and sustainable timber trade with heterogeneous stages of implementation across selected countries: Indonesia, Ghana, Vietnam, Honduras and the Republic of the Congo. VPAs have improved governance, enhanced traceability systems, stakeholder participation, inter-agency coordination and legal reforms. However, implementation outcomes remain highly uneven, primarily due to variations in political commitment, administrative capacity and the structure of export-oriented timber sectors. Significant impacts from VPAs lie in governance strengthening, more than direct reductions in deforestation or increases in trade. While legality assurance systems have improved transparency and institutional capacity, environmental outcomes remain limited and indirect. The emergence of the EU Deforestation Regulation and Forest Partnerships is revamping VPA’s relevance with stricter deforestation-free regulations and broader cooperation, but concerns are being raised about coherence and incentive structures. The system’s relevance will depend on its integration with other EU regulatory instruments and its ability to incentivise producing countries to maintain sustainable agendas.