Jan 12, 2007. /Lesprom Network/. The actual implementation of the European Commission’s action plan on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) is starting under a new 4-years partnership agreement with the European Forest Institute. It will be to implement a wide range of measures to combat illegal logging and the associated trade will be negotiated between the European Commission and wood-producing developing countries. EFI, as a neutral international organization, will have a task of facilitating these negotiations happen. The main elements of the Commission’s action plan are support for improved governance in wood-producing countries and a licensing scheme to ensure only legal timber entering the EU. These measures will be adopted through voluntary partnership agreements with wood-producing countries, in the first instance with Ghana, Malaysia and Indonesia. Developing countries are assisted to enter and implement effective partnership agreements with the EU under the auspices of the EU FLEGT action plan. EFI will contribute by providing facilitation services and technical assistance to initiate these processes. It will also verify and monitor the implementation of the programmes. This action means conquering a new area of expertise for EFI. Recruitment for four experts will start soon as well as the nomination of the Steering Committee.