The proposed expansion of the European Union will increase the organisation’s forest area by 34 million ha.
Speaking at a recent meeting of the European Timber Trade Association (FEBO), Seppo Kallio of the Finnish Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners said that these additional forests would provide employment and raise the proportion of publicly-owned land.
In the short term, the new member states would provide additional timber supplies, but in the longer term they could become potential markets, he said.
FEBO president Claudia Swoboda said that the organisation should be seen as the European federation of importers and it was looking to forge greater links with the EC. FEBO also hoped to expand its country membership to include Spain and Portugal and to promote greater co-operation with other European timber organisations.
