THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,
Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure,
Whereas:
(1)
Council Regulation (EC) No 2173/2005 confers powers upon the Commission in order to implement some of the provisions of that Regulation.
(2)
As a consequence of the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, the powers conferred on the Commission under Regulation (EC) No 2173/2005 should be aligned to Articles 290 and 291 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
(3)
In order to apply some of the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 2173/2005, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 TFEU should be delegated to the Commission in respect of amendments to Annexes I, II and III to that Regulation. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level. The Commission, when preparing and drawing up delegated acts, should ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and to the Council.
(4)
In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 2173/2005, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission to assess and approve existing schemes that guarantee the legality and reliable tracking of timber products exported from partner countries with a view to becoming the basis of a Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licence, and to adopt modalities of a practical nature and documents of a standard format, including their possible means (electronic or paper format) in relation to the FLEGT licensing scheme. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
(5)
Regulation (EC) No 2173/2005 should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: