EU Forestry Strategy [7181/05]: EU Farm Ministers considered a future Action Plan for Sustainable Forest Management as part of a wider report on the EU Forestry Strategy published last week by Commissioners Fischer Boel, Verheugen (Enterprise) & Dimas (Environment) [see AF21-05].

Fischer Boel stressed the importance of the forestry sector which employs 3.4 million people and said that the action plan would facilitate a new approach to forestry in the context of the existing forestry strategy. Czech Minister Jaroslav Palas called for the importance to coordinate EU action with national policies. Ministers agreed to return to the dossier in May.