The current Forest Strategy which was adopted by the Commission on 16 July was heavily criticized by the Council in the Council’s draft response. Bioenergy Europe’s Secretariat has now obtained a copy of the Commission’s draft response to this reaction. In the Council’s reaction they state, “all forest-related decisions and policies in the EU must respect the principle of subsidiarity and Member States’ competence in this field,” the Commission pushed back saying “Forests and forestry do not fall within the exclusive competency of Member States.” Forestry is likely to remain an area of conflict between the Council and the Commission. For more information, please contact Daniel Reinemann.