Confident, but clear about the fact that the lines could still move within Parliament, the S&D vice-president for the Green Deal, Mohammed Chahim (Dutch), nonetheless confided on Thursday 22 February that he expected a majority to be obtained during the vote on the interinstitutional agreement on nature restoration, which will take place at the plenary session on 27 February (see EUROPE 13303/30).
“We’re expecting a majority, even if, let’s be honest, we’ve seen agreements blocked, particularly in the Council. Let’s see what happens, if people do what they said they would, what they negotiated for. If that’s the case, we’ll have a majority. Otherwise, it will be complicated to reach a conclusion before the end of the mandate”, he commented at a meeting with the press.
The Dutch MEP explained that, based on current trends and discussions between stakeholders, he did not expect amendments to be tabled by groups, “but by individuals”. “I am still confident that the agreement reached in trilogue will also receive the support of the EPP”, he added.
As for the position of certain S&D delegations, in particular the Romanian delegation, the outcome of the vote and their potential support are still unclear. “I still have my doubts, but I am confident that, in the end, they will not oppose the text”, said Mr Chahim.
The European Parliament began negotiations with the EU27 on the basis of a mandate that had been painstakingly obtained in plenary session. The text had seen the EPP turn to the right of the Chamber in an attempt to find allies who, like them, wanted to reject the text. The motion to reject was narrowly defeated by just 12 votes, thanks to the left of the Chamber and almost 70% of the Liberals, before the report was adopted by Parliament (see EUROPE 13221/1).
The European co-legislators, whose positions had long remained far apart, finally reached an interinstitutional agreement on the dossier on 9 November (see EUROPE 13290/1). Among other things, they agreed to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and marine areas by 2030. The agreement also requires Member States to adopt measures to restore at least 30% of natural habitat types in poor condition by 2030, 60% by 2040 and 90% by 2050. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)