The show aimed at restoring nature has run into headwinds. The center-right EPP group of the EU Parliament threatens to overturn the Commission’s proposal in the decisive votes.
BRUSSELS Plans to increase protected land and sea areas suffered a setback last week when a proposal for binding restoration targets for member states was rejected by the parliament agricultural– and in fisheries committees.
In the background is the largest group in the parliament EPP policy rejection of the regulation.
The positions of the committees are not decisive in the progress of the matter in the EU. However, they indicate dissatisfaction with the regulation among MEPs.
According to the Commission’s proposal, restoration measures should cover at least 20 percent of the EU countries’ land and sea areas by 2030. By 2050, the regulation would apply to all ecosystems in need of restoration.
In the case of Finland, the restoration measures would concern 2–6 million hectares. The restoration measures would affect, among other things, a significant part of Finland’s peat fields.
The coalition Petri Sarvamaan according to the restoration regulation is a threat to food production in Europe.
– It sets short-term goals for farmers that cannot be met without jeopardizing food security.
Modig: The upcoming elections will have an impact
The left-wing groups in the Parliament wonder about the EPP’s desire to overturn the restoration decree. The Left Alliance Silvia Modigin according to EPP’s group decision is irresponsible.
– The approaching EU parliamentary elections apparently affect the thinking of some people so that they are no longer able to make compromises.
Modig rejects the argument about the effects of the restoration decree on food security.
– All the reports and studies that we in the environmental committee have requested say that the loss of biodiversity is the biggest threat to food safety.
Timmermans: There will be no new proposal
The restoration regulation is part of the EU’s green transition and the EU’s international commitments related to climate and biodiversity.
Climate Commissioner Frans Timmermans said last week in Parliament that the Commission would not issue a new proposal if the Restoration Regulation fails in Parliament.
The environment committee of the EU Parliament will vote on the restoration regulation in mid-June. The Council representing the member states is also expected to form its position on the proposal during June.
The Parliament’s decisive vote on the restoration regulation will probably be held in July.
– This is in a way a war situation, where everyone is driving their forces to the July plenary session, the coalition’s Sarvamaa describes the political setup of the parliament.
You can discuss the topic until 23:00 tomorrow.