1. The EU Delegation wishes to reassure Ukrainians that we share your desire to protect Ukraine's natural environment. You should know that we have even been providing your country since 2008 with our best advice on how to take care of forests also in Ukraine (for details see http://www.enpi-fleg.org/ru/about/about-fleg/). We are sure that this shared knowledge would further help to improve the protection of Ukrainian forests (and not only in Carpathians) in a similar manner to how it is done in the EU, be it in the Alps, the Tatra Mountains or the forests of Scandinavia. In general, the EU policies and EU integration do not lead to deforestation but help to prevent it.

2. If Ukraine decided it wanted to protect more of its forests - including more of the unique biosphere in the Carpathians - the EU would be supportive. A ban on all logging (or limited logging) or even access restrictions in a particular protected area, for justified and demonstrable environmental reasons, is perfectly legitimate and acceptable: as long as such a ban or other restrictions apply equally to all. Sustainable development of Ukraine's forests should be the goal.

3. We understand well the concerns expressed by those Ukrainian citizens, who care for the forests and do not wish to see uncontrolled deforestation, illegal logging and the stripping of Ukraine's natural resources. BTW, have you noticed that despite the wood ban the illegal logging and smuggling of the wood are still taking place?

4. The reason is that the current ban on the export of wood does not achieve these goals. It simply serves the needs of some vested interests in the wood processing industry, allowing them to get exclusive and unrestricted access to forestry resources in order to exploit them for themselves. The ban is not preventing deforestation. And it does not prevent illegal logging or smuggling of wood as these illegal activities become more profitable. The EU would strongly support higher penalties for such crimes and more effective enforcement actions in this field.

5. The reason the EU opposes the current wood ban is because it is a restriction on free trade. It is against Ukraine's international commitments under the World Trade Organisation and the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. Free trade agreements, which generate economic growth and jobs for both parties, mean equal access to each other's' markets. The EU is opening its Single Market to Ukraine, offering massive opportunities to Ukrainian companies, and Ukraine is expected to do the same for the EU. We have been working with the Ukrainian authorities to find a solution which strikes a fair balance between permitting fair and equal access to natural resources, promoting trade, investment and economic development, and protecting the valuable and unique natural resources of Ukraine.