Integration of the EU Timber regulation requirements into the forest policy framework of selected Western Balkan countries: a multiple case study analysis for Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina

In the past three decades, significant efforts have been made to combat deforestation and illegal logging globally. The European Union (EU) has played a pivotal role in this by introducing key initiatives, such as the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan in 2003 and the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) in 2013. Ten years later, the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) came into effect, requiring specified commodities to be "deforestation-free" for sale in the EU market or export. Despite a decrease in the EU's imports of illegally harvested timber, concerns persist about the potential trade of illegally sourced timber within producing countries or a shift of exports to regions with less stringent regulations. Western Balkan countries, including non-EU member states like Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), are identified as priority nations by the European Commission for EUTR implementation. Forestry is a traditional economic sector in these countries, and despite export-oriented economic directions, state actors remain crucial in shaping forestry policies. Decision-makers at the state forestry administration level play a pivotal role in the application of specific legislation to adapt to EU policies as well as market requirements. However, progress in EUTR preparation in these non-EU Western Balkan countries is slow and delayed, with incomplete normative and policy frameworks for the implementation and assessment of effective due diligence standards and systems. Building on this premise, this research aims to investigate how five Western Balkan countries — i.e., Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina — have transposed EUTR requirements into their national policies and how they are addressing the coming soon implementation of EUDR. To do so, we used multiple case study methods by combining both policy analysis to assess the extent to which EU regulations have been adopted into the national context, and key stakeholder interviews across all targeted countries. The research focused on identifying key actors in the implementation of the EUTR regulation and relevant for the future implementation of the EUDR. Then two-stage interviews were conducted. The first stage was aimed at capturing the perspectives of 36 representatives from competent institutions, including state forestry administrations, public forest management enterprises, forestry inspection bodies, research institutions, private companies, and non-governmental organizations across the five surveyed countries. The second stage was specifically designed and conducted to understand the relationships among identified stakeholders, and to this aim 25 interviews were conducted in the five surveyed countries and a pilot Structural Network Analysis was conducted for Serbia. Collaboration among relevant institutions is essential, necessitating improved cooperation between forestry, environmental protection, economy, and regulatory authorities. As for the remaining three surveyed countries, they show different profiles with regard both to their policy and normative settings and to the timber and timber product markets they mainly point at. To better comply with existing regulations, the surveyed countries have undertaken specific initiatives. The EUDR poses a new challenge for both EU member and candidate countries. Understanding and implementing this forthcoming regulation require serious consideration and strong support from state forestry administrations to successfully enforce the envisaged provisions.