Politics of delay hinder the implementation of EU Forest Strategy in Finland.

Abstract

This study analyses potential barriers to the implementation of the New EU Forest Strategy 2030 (EUFS) in Finland. When the EUFS was published in 2021, emphasising environmental outcomes and forests as carbon sinks, the timber-oriented countries were cautious of the strategy. While the EUFS is not a legally binding document, it comes with legally binding forest-related regulation. To shed light on a Member State's response to these policy developments, policy documents and interview data was analysed through a critical institutional policy analysis lens, using policy transfer and policy delay frameworks. "All talk, little action" was the most prominent strategy in delaying implementation of the EUFS, partly legitimized by concerns that Nordic forestry expertise and needs are sidelined in the EU, and by emphasising private property rights and national sovereignty. This research demonstrates that national priorities can override international climate and biodiversity commitments, highlighting a critical gap between formal commitments and real-world practices.