In the votes in the Environment Committee, one-third of the EPP deputies had been replaced by deputies, some of them from outside the party, a manoeuvre that is not possible in plenary votes.
The EPP had left the negotiations on this law in the European Parliament after a party conference decision in May, and announced that it would vote against the result in any case. The warnings and appeals from academia, business and civil society were not listened to at all.
The EU Nature Restoration Law is a central pillar of the European Green Deal and a prerequisite for achieving the EU’s climate goals as well as the biodiversity targets of the December 2022 UN Biodiversity Conference.
Next steps: With the adoption of the Parliament’s position, the trilogue negotiations between Commission, Parliament and Council can begin.
Greens/EFA negotiator in the European Parliament, Jutta Paulus commented:
“The Green Deal lives on! The Nature Restoration Law is the mainstay that turns the Climate Deal into the Green Deal! The European Parliament votes for protection from droughts, fires and floods, and for long-term food security.
“The Nature Restoration Law is good for the climate, good for biodiversity, good for farmers and good for the economy. With the adoption of the parliamentary position by the majority of MEPs, the European Parliament goes into talks with the Commission and Member States.
“At the same time, however, it is also clear: Manfred Weber and his anti-Von der Leyen coalition with right-wing conservatives and right-wing extremists have damaged the reputation of the European Parliament with their destructive intrigues!”
