The European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) was forced to postpone the vote on a proposed Nature Restoration law following a chaotic session in the chamber on June 15.
The move came amid what seems to be growing division between the Parliament and Member States over the content of the European Nature Restoration Act proposal.
On Thursday, an all-important vote on the nature restoration law was on the table in Strasbourg. The European Commission’s environment plans go hand-in-hand with the so-called ‘green deal’ and the Vice-President of the Commission, Frans Timmermans, is defending it tooth and nail.
Apparently, his struggles aren’t enough.
The European People’s Party (EPP), the largest group in the European Parliament, wanted everything voted down. But their amendment to achieve that was narrowly rejected by the committee on a tied vote of 44 to 44, meaning it was not approved, allowing voting on the actual law to take place. This prompted applause in the packed room from green, socialist and other progressive MEPs.
EPP failed today in their sad attempt to reject the EU law to #RestoreNature. But after delaying the process, the committee vote is postponed until on June 27.
This is one battle won for nature & the #EUGreenDeal, but our fight continues.
Join us at https://t.co/20VpfTFMDP pic.twitter.com/y86hDWS11B
— Greens/EFA in the EU Parliament 🌍 (@GreensEFA) June 15, 2023
But the vote itself was a tortuous affair on the back of the number of amendments aired by all parties. In total, MEPs had to vote on more than 500 separate sections of the bill. This ate up the allotted time available, leading to a postponement of a final decision from the Environment Committee.
“It was incredibly chaotic,” said Green MEP, Sarah Matthieu. “We will have to wait until the next committee on June 27 to know the final result.”
The postponement means the issue will return to Member States already divided over the proposed legislation for consideration. French President, Emmanuel Macron, and Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, have loudly proclaimed that the ‘green’ policy, if adopted, would represent too big a burden for their industries and economies.
The Netherlands, Timmermans’ home country, approved a motion on June 14 that also wants to delay the progress of the disputed nature laws. The Dutch feel the legislation is moving ahead too quickly and that there are too many unanswered questions surrounding it, such as its impact on economies and home-building sectors.
The European Council should reach its own decision on June 20, but it was leaked this week that the Swedish presidency, which determines the agenda of the Council, is open to putting the nature restoration law on hold. A group of countries, including France and Belgium, signed a letter that presses Sweden to adopt an aligned position on the legislation.
It is, however, unclear how further voting will turn out. In Belgium, for example, where De Croo argues for a pause, the Green parties that are part of the Federal Government he leads rejoiced in the derailment today of the EPP amendment and said, rather than a pause, an acceleration of the law’s progress was needed.
ENVI members will vote again on June 27 and the divided Parliament plenary also has to vote on the law, where the EPP is leading the charge against it.
They say the economic cost is too high, especially for farmers. It might even endanger the supply chain and food prices, they claim.
Due to what appears to be increasing resistance, European Commission President, Ursula Von der Leyen, has opened the door for adjustments to the proposed nature legislation, potentially making room for further compromise.
We will not achieve our climate and biodiversity goals by going against our rural areas. Mr Timmermans, put a better legislative proposal on the table that addresses our concerns and we are ready to work together. pic.twitter.com/5ZzyoLZ9xS
— Manfred Weber (@ManfredWeber) June 14, 2023
