Despite the EPP Group’s withdrawal from the negotiations on the proposed EU regulation on nature restoration, the S&D, Renew Europe, Greens/EFA and The Left political groups are not giving up, nor are they taking it lying down.
While this withdrawal had been announced by the EPP in the afternoon of Wednesday 31 May (see EUROPE 13191/22), the other political groups, which were continuing their negotiations, expressed their dismay in the evening, announcing on the Twitter account of Jutta Paulus (Greens/EFA) that they had agreed on a joint text as a “compromise package” to be put to the vote in Parliament's Environment Committee on 15 June.
The compromise amendments were not available on Thursday.
Although the chances of achieving a large majority on the report by César Luena (Spanish S&D) (see EUROPE 13098/3), without the EPP, ECR and ID groups, are diminishing, Ms Paulus felt that nothing was lost. “Of course, the EPP is the largest group (177 members: Editor’s note), but they do not have an absolute majority. It will be difficult to find a majority, but it is possible. We can count on a majority”, she told the press on Thursday in a videoconference.
She added: “It shouldn’t be a political game when it comes to saving nature. It’s an overarching issue”.
Alongside her, Terry Reintke felt that blocking the EPP would have “very damaging implications for the Green Deal”, but also for “the possibility of making European decisions in the future”.
For the S&D group, which issued a statement on Wednesday evening, the EPP “has yet again demonstrated great irresponsibility by turning a blind eye to both the climate and biodiversity crises – which Europeans have to cope with”. César Luena said he was “appalled”, but added: “We will not give up. On the contrary, we are stepping up our efforts to achieve a solid majority ahead of the vote in committee”.
The EPP group, which, like Christine Schneider, condemns “an attack on European agriculture, forestry and fisheries”, considers the proposal unacceptable as it stands.
According to this MEP, “the European Commission cannot expect the EPP to simply accept the proposal without a comprehensive impact assessment on food security, reduced farmland and the renewable energy roll-out. This is not negotiable”. If the Commission is serious about nature restoration, it should come up with a new proposal as soon as possible”.
On Thursday, the European Commission released to the press a statement of support from scientists for its proposed regulation - a statement received on Wednesday, according to a spokesperson, and which calls for the restoration of 20% of the EU’s land and seas, as well as the restoration of all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.
See the text: https://aeur.eu/f/76u (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)