The Sustainable Development Institute (SDI), in partnership with three African Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from Cameroon, Ghana, and the Republic of Congo, along with Fern, is urging their respective governments to join in calling for the European Commission (EC) to revisit its unilateral decision to terminate the Liberian Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA).
Last week, SDI representatives visited Brussels and Paris to engage with European policymakers. The European Parliament and European Council have the authority to decide whether to terminate the Liberian VPA. However, following in-depth discussions with Members of the European Parliament from a range of political groups (right, center, and left), it became apparent that many were either misinformed or not fully aware of the European Commission’s decision. Similarly, meetings with representatives from European Member State ministries revealed that they had not been adequately consulted or informed about the issue.
Given the VPA’s crucial role in addressing illegal logging and deforestation in Liberia, SDI urges the European Commission to reconsider its proposal to unilaterally terminate the VPA and replace it with a “Forest Partnership”—a framework that is non-legally binding and lacks clear content and ambition, thus evading parliamentary scrutiny and accountability.
Instead, SDI, along with its partners, calls for the European Commission, European Parliament, and European Council to pursue a model that supports the coexistence of both the VPA and the Forest Partnership, ensuring that all stakeholders are involved in the process. The Commission has yet to present compelling reasons for replacing the VPA with a Forest Partnership, especially when the VPA and Forest Partnership frameworks already coexist harmoniously in three other countries.
In Guyana, the Republic of Congo, and Honduras, the VPA and Forest Partnerships complement each other, with the Forest Partnership serving as a coordination tool that relies on the effective implementation of the VPA. During SDI’s recent trip to Brussels and Paris from January 27-30, 2025, the European Commission confirmed the importance of maintaining the coexistence of these two frameworks.
“We are convinced that a coexistence model will foster meaningful dialogue among governments, civil society organizations (CSOs), and other stakeholders, ensuring that the objectives of the VPA are met. The VPA should be strengthened with a Forest Partnership, not replaced by it,” said Jonathan W. Yiah, Forest Governance Program Team Leader at SDI. “This will allow for the necessary adjustments and improvements to build an effective partnership with the EU,” he added.
This coexistence approach offers the potential for innovative and sustainable solutions, helping to maintain and enhance the achievements of the VPA while respecting the evolving landscape of forest governance.
It will foster collaboration among governments, civil society, and industry stakeholders to ensure that the VPA’s goals are realized, while also allowing for necessary adjustments to the Forest Partnership.
As is the case in many African countries, Liberia’s VPA plays a vital role in promoting sustainable forest governance, including fostering transparency, increasing stakeholder participation, and combating illegal logging.
Terminating the VPA would significantly undermine progress made and risk reverting Liberia to a past where forest exploitation failed to benefit the broader population.
The cancellation of the legally binding agreement would not only disrupt this progress but also have disastrous consequences for the environment, the economy, and the communities that rely on forest resources for their livelihoods.
“We urge the EC to invest in multi-stakeholder dialogues to identify solutions for strengthening the VPA through a Forest Partnership, rather than terminating it outright. Collaborative solutions are essential,” Jonathan Yiah emphasized. “We believe that sustaining the VPA while encouraging a coexistence approach is the best path forward.”
