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full screen Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg and others demonstrated for the nature restoration law at the EU Parliament last year. Now a go-ahead could be close. Stock photo. Photo: Jean-Francois Badias/AP/TT
Another reversal opens the way for approval of the EU’s controversial nature restoration law – despite continued opposition from Sweden.
The law on, among other things, the restoration of wetlands and green areas in cities has been an infected trailer within the EU for more than a year.
Several times the proposals have been on the verge of being dropped, only to be approved – and then fall into doubt again.
Actually, everything should already be clear in view of the settlement that was negotiated during Spain’s time as chairman of the EU’s Council of Ministers last winter and was then provisionally approved by both the EU Parliament and the member states. However, the latter’s final yes has been mired in new disagreement – not least driven by Sweden.
However, Belgium, the current chairman of the Council of Ministers, has continued the work and now hopes to get enough countries to say yes at a meeting of environment ministers in Luxembourg today. A key country is Austria, whose Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler announced at a press conference yesterday that she intends to vote yes – even if it risks triggering a government crisis at home.
– Delays, obscurity and tactics may work as tactics, but they do not help our nature to breathe. If there is a vote, the EU can count on an Austrian yes, Gewessler said at a press conference yesterday, according to the news agency APA.