EBA discusses the draft State Anti-Corruption Strategy in the forestry sector

15/ 06/ 2026

On 15 June, a discussion was held on the draft State Anti-Corruption Strategy in the forestry sector. The document aims to identify key corruption risks in the industry, establish a systematic approach to minimising them, and enhance transparency in the management of forest resources. The forestry sector has traditionally been considered one of the areas with elevated corruption risks. In particular, this concerns issues related to the allocation of forest land, logging operations, accounting and sale of timber, as well as monitoring forest regeneration. The document provides for the implementation of comprehensive measures to improve public oversight mechanisms, expand access to open data, and strengthen accountability among all market participants. It is expected that the strategy’s implementation will help reduce opportunities for abuse, improve the efficiency of forest resource management, and strengthen public trust in state institutions. In addition, the introduction of effective anti-corruption mechanisms in the forestry sector is an important component of Ukraine’s fulfilment of its international commitments in the areas of good governance, environmental protection, and European integration. During the discussion, Yurii Andriiv, Committees Manager of the European Business Association, drew particular attention to the need to address regulatory gaps in the timber market. In particular, this concerns cases where timber is sold by agro-forestry enterprises through direct contracts outside organised commodity markets. Such practice leads to the sale of timber outside transparent competitive procedures, limiting equal access for Ukrainian woodworking enterprises to raw materials. A shortage of timber in sufficient volumes makes it more difficult for companies to fulfil their export contracts and domestic market obligations, and also creates conditions for speculative price increases, negatively affecting the competitiveness of domestic producers. According to the business community, the introduction of effective liability for violations of the requirement to sell timber exclusively through organised exchange trading would help prevent speculation, minimise abuse, and ensure equal competitive conditions for all market participants.

The forestry sector has traditionally been considered one of the areas with elevated corruption risks. In particular, this concerns issues related to the allocation of forest land, logging operations, accounting and sale of timber, as well as monitoring forest regeneration.

The document provides for the implementation of comprehensive measures to improve public oversight mechanisms, expand access to open data, and strengthen accountability among all market participants. It is expected that the strategy’s implementation will help reduce opportunities for abuse, improve the efficiency of forest resource management, and strengthen public trust in state institutions.

In addition, the introduction of effective anti-corruption mechanisms in the forestry sector is an important component of Ukraine’s fulfilment of its international commitments in the areas of good governance, environmental protection, and European integration.

During the discussion, Yurii Andriiv, Committees Manager of the European Business Association, drew particular attention to the need to address regulatory gaps in the timber market. In particular, this concerns cases where timber is sold by agro-forestry enterprises through direct contracts outside organised commodity markets.

Such practice leads to the sale of timber outside transparent competitive procedures, limiting equal access for Ukrainian woodworking enterprises to raw materials. A shortage of timber in sufficient volumes makes it more difficult for companies to fulfil their export contracts and domestic market obligations, and also creates conditions for speculative price increases, negatively affecting the competitiveness of domestic producers.

According to the business community, the introduction of effective liability for violations of the requirement to sell timber exclusively through organised exchange trading would help prevent speculation, minimise abuse, and ensure equal competitive conditions for all market participants.