MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Closer-to-nature forestry initiative and the planned EU certification framework – E-000610/2025

Question for written answer  E-000610/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Christine Schneider (PPE), Angelika Winzig (PPE), Alexander Bernhuber (PPE)

The aim of the Commission’s closer-to-nature forestry initiative is to promote sustainable forest management; but it could have far-reaching consequences because of linking in with an EU-wide certification framework. Critics see in this approach a possible circumvention of national competences in the forestry sector plus creeping centralisation. The planned certification framework might also weaken established standards such as PEFC and FSC, create additional bureaucratic burdens for businesses and make access to funding more difficult.

• 1.What are the Commission’s objectives with regard to the planned certification framework, and how will it be ensured that the subsidiarity principle is observed?
• 2.What institutions or organisations are to carry out certification, and how will incorporation of existing voluntary standards such as PEFC and FSC be ensured?
• 3.Does the Commission plan to link certification in with EU funding programmes, and how will it be ensured that that does not involve an additional burden for forest holdings?

Submitted: 11.2.2025