A majority is emerging in the European Parliament in favour of a broader simplification than the amendments submitted by the European Commission (see EUROPE 13735/4) or a one-year suspension of the regulation to combat imported deforestation.
On Tuesday 11 November, during an exchange with the European Commissioner for Environment, Jessika Roswall, MEPs from the EPP, ECR, PfE and ESN felt that the revisions proposed by the Commission would not be enough. In their view, operators are not ready, the geolocation of sites poses a problem and the number of due diligence declarations is still too high.
The issue of creating a category of ‘no risk’ for deforestation countries was put back on the table by Christine Schneider (EPP, German), who had already called for this last year, during the negotiations that led to the first postponement of the regulation.
Taken together, the voices of the right wing of the Chamber and part of the Renew Europe group, which is divided on the issue, could lead to a request for Parliament to suspend the regulation for one year. A similar desire could come from the EU Council. On Wednesday 12 November, the Danish Presidency of the EU Council presented a compromise text, which maintains the European Commission’s simplification measures, but postpones the implementation date by one year. A majority of Member States have already expressed this desire for a one-year postponement, while others have insisted on the need for further simplification (see EUROPE 13746/4).
In Parliament, on Tuesday 11 November, S&D, the Greens/EFA, The Left and several Renew Europe MEPs criticised the Commission for opening Pandora’s box. “As soon as we reopen, we reopen everything”, stated Pascal Canfin (Renew Europe, French).
Opposed to a one-year suspension, which would increase uncertainty, and to the addition of a category of countries with ‘no risk’ for deforestation, the Commission has not yet said whether it intends to withdraw its proposal if the co-legislators table additional amendments.
The latter will have to reach an agreement before the end of the year to prevent the text from coming into force. A vote to pass the revision of the regulation under the urgent procedure will be held on Thursday 13 November in the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment. The Parliament’s position is expected to be voted on at the plenary session in late November. (Original version in French by Florent Servia)