National negotiating structures in Cameroon
Steering committee
The steering committee's role was develop negotiating positions and draft VPA annexes, in consultation with stakeholders. The committee's members included:
Government: Representatives of the Ministry of Forests, the Presidency; Prime Minister's Office; Ministry of Trade; Ministry of External Relations; Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Economy, Planning and Management of the Territory; Ministry of Finance (Customs and Taxation Department)
Private sector: Representatives of the Cameroon Wood Supply Group; National Association of Young Timber Loggers and Wood Processors; Professional Syndicate of Industrial Processors and Exporters of Special Forests Products; General Surveillance Society
Civil society: One seat for the EC Forest Platform Cameroon, and one seat open to a civil society representative with experience of the topic under discussion
Parliament: Two parliamentarians joined in 2008, the year after negotiations began
Negotiation committee
The negotiation committee's role was to negotiate a VPA with the EU. It had the same membership as the steering committee but with the addition of the Minister of Forests.
Stakeholders
Stakeholder structures included four private sector groups and a civil society platform.