The area of forest in Ukraine covers less than 14% of its vast territory. This is why, in 2015, to prevent further deforestation, and to promote rational management of natural resources, a moratorium was introduced on the export of untreated timber from Ukraine.
Taking into consideration the climate change and the present state of environment in Ukraine, such an approach was consonant with both national and global environmental protection interests, and the principles of a ‘green economy’. Unfortunately, this moratorium has not stopped deforestation and provoked smuggling and so called "grey exports" (wrong category declaration for example as waste wood or fire wood).
However, outside Ukraine, this legislative act by the Ukrainian parliament considered as being contrary to the principles of free trade. In particular, the European Union has made the provision of EUR 600 million in macro-financial assistance conditional on the cancellation of the above-mentioned moratorium. While this may be in line with the EU's policy for raw materials, it limits the development choices of Ukraine.
Further, forcing Ukraine to drop its moratorium could significantly increase the market pressure to cut down its forests. We, the European Greens, emphasise that the consideration of environmental factors must be a priority in the process of international economic cooperation. Therefore, we demand of the European Commission to find together with Ukraine a solution to keep the moratorium according to the idea of article 361 of the Association agreement.
Deforestation is a conveyor belt to devastating climate change and species loss that the world must stop, and fast. “It is hypocritical for Europe to portray itself as a climate leader while doing little to slow its own insatiable appetite for the fruits of destroyed forests.” The EU has to set an example, the battle against deforestation must be fought also in Europe (Ukraine, Poland ...). To combat deforestation a number of EU policies need to be reinforced.