EU enlargement presents new opportunities and challenges for timber promotion, delegates at the European Timber Trade Association‘s (FEBO) general assembly heard.
FEBO deputy general secretary Sabine Heyman told the Salzburg conference that enlargement meant lobbying by individual companies was losing favour to advocacy by trade federations.
Ms Heyman said the change enabled FEBO to give the timber trade a stronger and more consistent message to Europe, as well as becoming an important stakeholder in influencing decision-making on issues including standardisation and illegal logging.
European Panel Federation (EPF) president Ladislaus Dory called for stronger co-operation between trade and industry, especially concerning CE-marking. He also said it was in the interest of FEBO and the EPF to promote mutual recognition of sustainable forest management certification.
FEBO member updates showed that trade declined in Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and Switzerland during 2003. But this year every member country is experiencing an upturn, with France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg recording the highest growth rates.
Delegates also heard that the changing situation in Russia is becoming a more important factor to FEBO, as the country’s sawn timber production is growing by 7% per year, a much higher rate than EU members.
