The policy dialogue on sustainable cocoa between Côte d’Ivoire and the European Union launched on
22 January 2021 is an opportunity to initiate important reforms in the cocoa sector. We, as civil society
organisations, welcome and strongly support this initiative.
Like the Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (VPA
FLEGT) process, this dialogue must be inclusive and rigorous.

It must enable Côte d’Ivoire to develop a
strategy for the sustainable development of its cocoa sector as it has done for its forestry sector in
recent years. For this to happen, it is important that commitments within this dialogue are based on
tangible elements, on observed facts and above all on the reality on the ground. This is why, at a time
when the European Union is preparing to adopt a regulation on products linked to deforestation, we
felt it was necessary, as civil society organisations, to produce this document to share our thoughts.