At the FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference held in Oslo on 14-16 June 2011, ministers responsible for forests decided to take further international action consisting of the elaboration of a legally binding agreement on forests in Europe and established an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee with the mandate to develop such an agreement.

According to the provisions of the Oslo Mandate, the Committee should complete its tasks not later than 30 June 2013. The Committee will present its results to an extraordinary FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference that will take place within six months of the conclusion of the negotiations for consideration, possible adoption and opening for signature.

The Resumed Third Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe (INC-Forests3) was held from 3-5 April 2013 in St. Petersburg, the Russian Federation. The Fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee will be convened on 10-14 in Warsaw, Poland.