MEPs from the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) are seeking an alliance with the European People’s Party (EPP), the largest group in Parliament, to postpone and rework the EU’s deforestation rules, as the landmark legislation faces fresh political pressure.
The proposal is outlined in a letter, obtained by Euractiv, sent on Friday to EPP chief Manfred Weber, as well as the group’s environment lead, Peter Liese, and deforestation negotiator, Christine Schneider, by ECR members of the environment and agricultural committees – including chair Veronika Vrecionová.
“We share a common objective: to ensure that the … EUDR delivers protection of forests worldwide while remaining workable,” the letter states.
The ECR MEPs regretted that the European Commission’s proposal from last month to change the rules amid technical issues does not “resolve the underlying technical challenges” raised by countries and companies.
Right-wing MEPs have repeatedly called for European countries to be exempted from the legislation and had supported the one-year delay first announced by the Commission in September – a postponement that ultimately applied only to small companies.
The ECR group is pushing for Parliament to take “coordinated responsibility” to ensure a “credible framework for implementation.”
The position of the right-wing group, which they are asking the EPP to support, includes a stop-the-clock mechanism that would delay implementation, as well as a vague reference to simplifying reporting obligations.
This appears to align with the push by ministers in the Council to also stop the clock on the legislation to buy more time for further changes.
Deforestation rules divide EU institutions as delay gains ground
The EU’s deforestation regulation (EUDR) is facing another hurdle this week, as mounting political pressure…
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“We trust that we can move in this direction together and stand ready to contribute constructively as the process advances,” it reads.
When Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall announced a potential delay – which would reopen the regulation – the EPP pledged to propose further modifications to the text, including a “no risk category” that would exempt some European countries from the rules.
Member states are set to discuss their position on the changes next week, but more than half are pushing for a further delay. In Parliament, environment MEPs will grill Roswall over her proposal on Tuesday afternoon and are expected to vote on a fast-track procedure for the changes during the plenary next week.
(adm, aw)
