The coalition’s EU group EPP still opposes the restoration decree despite the compromises. The group fears that farmers’ support in the European elections will flow to the extreme right.
The coalition’s European Parliament group EPP plans to vote against the restoration regulation today in the European Parliament. The group’s chairman’s representative in the message service X tells about the matter.
The center-right EPP, or European People’s Party, is the largest group in the parliament, so the group’s opposition could bring down the project. Voting will at least be smart.
The party’s representative also urges the French president to direct the members of parliament’s Renew group to vote against the decree, if he is really concerned about the position of farmers. The Liberals’ Renew group has been divided by the restoration decree.
In the background are farmers’ demonstrations around Europe. The group fears that the farmers will move to June’s European Parliament elections to support far-right parties.
The restoration decree has progressed shakily. The EPP has opposed the restoration regulation all along. However, several changes have been made to the regulation in view of the Commission’s original proposal. An agreement on the matter had been negotiated between the Commission, the EU Parliament and the group of ministers of the member states, so it was assumed that the group was inclined to support the motion.
Finland opposed the regulation for a long time, along with Sweden and Austria, among others. The cost to Finland was initially estimated at one billion euros per year, and the requirements were considered tough. The amount has become more reasonable and the presentation has been toned down. In Finland, the requirements for the restoration of marsh areas are particularly worrying.
Restoration aims to stop the loss of nature. According to the regulation, at least 20 percent of the EU’s land and sea areas will be restored by 2030. By 2050, the regulation would apply to all ecosystems in need of restoration.