Because the EU contributes to 10% of global deforestation through its imports of products such as cocoa, coffee, palm oil, meat or rubber, and because voluntary certification schemes for products placed on the EU market have failed to halt this phenomenon, the European Parliament on Thursday 22 October called for a legal framework that imposes a duty of care along the supply chain.
By a very large majority (377 votes in favour, 75 against), not surprisingly (see EUROPE 12586/21), MEPs adopted the amended report by Delara Burkhardt (S&D, Germany) urging the Commission to legislate along these lines.
Parliament wants European companies to demonstrate that their supply chains do not contribute to the destruction of forests or other vital ecosystems - such as savannahs, grasslands, peat bogs and mangroves - or to human rights abuses, if they want to put products on the EU market.
With this vote, Parliament recommends that the future law should require all companies and financial institutions operating in Europe to show that their investments do not finance forest destruction or human rights violations.
“We have come up with an ambitious proposal. The final text contains central elements such as reasonable duty of care, corporate liability and the protection of human rights”, Ms Burkhardt welcomed.
Green MEP and lawyer Marie Toussaint (France) was pleased that her amendment in favour of a legal status for the world’s forests was voted through.
NGOs are delighted. Congratulating the Parliament for “listening to citizens”, Mighty Earth Director Nico Muzi said “It is high time the European Commission and big business did the same”. The NGO Fern welcomed this “Great news” and Greenpeace welcomed “a strong law that would go a long way towards ending EU complicity”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)