L 196/2 Official Journal of the European Union 28.7.2011 COUNCIL DECISION of 22 July 2011 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Liberia on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union (2011/475[EU) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 207(3), in conjunction with Article 218(5), thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, Whereas: (1) In May 2003, the Commission adopted a Communi- cation to the Council and to the European Parliament entitled ‘Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT): Proposal for an EU Action Plan" which called for measures to address illegal logging by developing voluntary partnership —agreements with timber-producing countries. Council conclusions on that Action Plan were adopted in October 2003 (') and the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the subject on 11 July 2005 (). (2 On 5 December 2005, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations on partnership agreements to implement the EU Action Plan for Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade. (3)  On 20 December 2005, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 2173/2005 (%), which established a FLEGT licensing scheme for imports of timber into the Union from countries with which the Union has concluded voluntary partnership agreements. (4)  The negotiations with the Republic of Liberia have been completed and the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Liberia on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union (here- inafter referred to as ‘the Agreement) was initialled on 9 May 2011. (5)  The Agreement should be signed, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The signing of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Liberia on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement) is hereby authorised on behalf of the Union, subject to the conclusion of the said Agreement (*). Article 2 The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Agreement on behalf of the Union. Article 3 This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption. Done at Brussels, 22 July 2011. For the Council The President M. DOWGIELEWICZ () O] C 268, 7.11.2003, p. 1. () 0] C 157 E, 6.7.2006, p. 482. () O] L 347, 30.12.2005, p. 1. (%) The text of the Agreement will be published together with the decision on its conclusion.