As the new year is approaching with new goals, promises and hopes that brighten up our thoughts, the EOS Secretariat has prepared a “political resolutions to aim for in 2018” to be disseminated to the Members of the European Parliament. With this letter, EOS sent its best season’s greetings in a fruitful way, inviting the Members of the EU Parliament to take into account three simple industrial oriented commitments.

           It's new year's resolutions time and it's time for a fresh start!

The European economy has entered its fifth year of recovery, which is now reaching almost all EU Member States with some differences in industrial sectors. This is expected to continue at a largely steady pace in 2018 and hopefully with your support and engagement economic difficulties would be overcome.

As the calendar year ends, people around the globe commit with vigour to all sorts of virtuous goals. Here are some political resolutions proposed by the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry to consider adopting in 2018.

             3 EASY RESOLUTIONS TO AIM FOR IN 2018

1. ADVOCATE FOR A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. The European sawmill industries have become more complex due to globalisation, production assortment and the development of technologies. While it is the responsibility of the industry itself to adapt and innovate in order to face the market challenges, the European Union and its Member States should support these efforts by guaranteeing a level-playing field, by promoting investment and by creating a favorable business environment.

2. SUSTAINABLE GROWTH FIRST. European policy makers should work for developing a new competitive, sustainable and resource efficient European Industry, ensuring both the creation of new jobs, and the transition to low-carbon economy. The use of renewable and natural resources, such as wood, would result in healthier products with a reduced environmental impact considering that these components could be returned to the biosphere at the end of their service life. To make possible the transition to a sustainable growth an economically competitive bio-economy should be promoted through the implementation of climate policies (e.g. carbon market) and non-discriminatory regulation for construction materials.

3. THINK ABOUT WOOD! Wood is by far the most economically important forest product although not all forests are focused on wood production. Let’s ensure that the Forest Strategy is geared towards securing healthy European forests which have to be able to provide their social, environmental and economic services, including enhancing wood availability, which is the pillar upon which the whole European sawmill Industry is standing. When implementing the LULUCF regulation, harvested wood products and their central role in the decarbonization of the economy should be properly accounted for.

The European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry wishes to all Members of the European Parliament a fruitful 2018.

Season’s greetings,

The Members of the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry