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.