The finalization of the EU’s restoration regulation was interrupted in March when Hungary turned against it. Now 11 environment ministers petitioned in favor of the regulation.
Roni Kuronen,
Veikko Eromäki
19:10•Updated 19:27
The environment ministers of 11 EU countries have published a joint letter on Tuesday, which aims to save the EU’s restoration regulation.
In addition to Ireland, which is driving the project, the ministers of Germany, France, Spain, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Lithuania and Slovenia have signed the letter.
The finalization of the regulation was interrupted in March in the last meters, when Hungary turned against the regulation. In addition to Hungary, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Italy, Poland, Finland and Sweden oppose the regulation.
British newspaper of The Guardian according to the letter, the countries that signed the letter fear that the EU restoration regulation will fall for good if the law is not ratified before Hungary’s EU presidency begins in July.
– Europe is the fastest warming continent and it will face the unprecedented effects of intertwined nature and climate crises, the letter says.
The restoration regulation would oblige EU countries to rehabilitate land and sea areas in poor condition. By 2030, countries should commit to restoring 20 percent of their environment. By 2050, 90 percent of the countries’ environment should be in good condition.
The law would also oblige the EU to plant 3 billion trees, so that Europe’s nature does not disappear in the future.
Finnish Minister of the Environment Kai Mykkänen (kok) has justified Finland’s opposition by saying that the restoration decree would be expensive for the state.
In March, Mykkänen referred to the Commission’s impact assessment, according to which the costs of the restoration regulation would be the highest for Finland among the EU countries for its size.
The next time the fate of the restoration decree can be voted on is June 17 in Luxembourg at the meeting of environment ministers. According to The Guardian’s sources, one member state changing its mind would be enough to save the regulation.