Support to FLEGT process in Vietnam and Laos The European Union (EU) adopted its Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan in 2003 to combat illegal logging and the associated trade and to strengthen forest governance. A key element of the Action Plan is to establish Voluntary P
artnership Agreements (VPA) which are bilateral agreements between the EU and timber exporting countries. The aim is to increase the supply of legal timber and timber products as well as to enhance sustainable development forest management and taxation. EU
 and Vietnam started formal VPA negotiations in mid 2010 which are targeted to end in 2014. The VPA will obligate Vietnam to guarantee the legality of all timber products and imported timber.Finland has supported the VPA negotiations through European Fores
t Institute (EFI) since 2011. The support will continue for two more years (2013-2015). The FLEGT Facilitator supports EU and Vietnam during the remainder of negotiation stage and for the commencement of VPA implementation. During the negotiation stage the
 Facilitator supports the Vietnam Administration of Forestry (VNFOREST) the EU Delegation and the European Commission  in the negotiations strengthens multistakeholder dialogue and information dissemination amongst national stakeholders (including civil so
ciety and private sector) as well as enhances coherence and coordination of FLEGT related activities and other cooperation strengthening forest governance.During the implementation phase the Facilitator will support the continuation of stakeholder engageme
nt  through VPA implementation activities and will provide support to the setting up of consultation mechanisms for VPA implementation and verification systems as negotiated in the agreement.Web site of European Forest Institute: www.efi.int