The EU Parliament’s agriculture and fisheries committees have rejected the Commission’s proposed Nature Restoration Regulation, in another sign of the increasing controversy around this key aspect of the Green Deal.
The proposed regulation would expand and tighten regulations on nature conservation.
EU rules for nature conservation have been in place for at least a couple of decades, known informally as the ‘nature directive,’ to refer to various, focused programs. The Birds Directive aims at maintaining the populations of over 460 species of wild, native birds, while the Habitats Directive targets specific wild fauna and flora populations ecosystems with a list of 1,389 species and 233 rare and characteristic habitat types to be conserved or restored, principally through establishing the Natura 2000 network of nature reserves, which have been at the heart of the Dutch controversy over nitrogen pollution and farmers. The Water Framework Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive set standards and targets for freshwater, groundwater, and oceans.
But the rules were voluntary and the results in nature restoration have been lackluster compared to the designated targets. Under Ursula von der Leyen’s Green Deal banner, a binding directive, was proposed with a wider reach, including, for example, “agricultural ecosystems.” Under the proposal, agricultural lands would be subject to new requirements, including organic carbon storage levels and the presence of butterflies and birds. It also sets requirements for restoring peatlands drained for agricultural use. The plan also includes a €100 billion budget to distribute to member states for nature restoration.
The Renew group was the linchpin in the agricultural committee’s vote to hand the proposal back to the Commission. Formerly divided on the file, all the members of the Renew group voted to reject the proposal.
The European People’s Party led the effort against the measure, in line with its hard campaigning to win the support of farmers, one of the groups most opposed to the avalanche of Green Deal regulations coming down from Brussels.
“The EPP Group will strongly resist any law proposals which are a danger to farmers’ work and the food security of European citizens,” said MEP Herbert Dorfmann, the EPP’s spokesman on agriculture. “We can reach the goals proposed by the Commission for nature restoration with fitted local and national measures.”
EPP lawmakers also argued that expanding nature restoration regulations would inhibit expanding ‘green energy’ such as solar and wind power generation parks.
The S&D group (The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats), criticised the flat-out rejection of the proposal as leaving the committee without leverage in ongoing negotiations—such as by proposing its own amendments. Though both the fisheries and agriculture committees get to opine on the file, the environmental committee has the final vote on the position that will be proposed to the plenary and is scheduled to vote on the file in mid-June.
EU Commissioner Frans Timmermans, the executive’s point man on environmental issues, met the committee on Monday and stated his unequivocal stance on the proposed directive.
“[The Commission] will not come with another proposal. Let that be crystal clear,” he said. “There is simply no time.”
The EPP believes open defiance is the best way to leverage its influence. Speaking after the vote, EPP rapporteur Anne Sander said she hoped other committees and the whole parliament would also take a strong stance against the measure. She accused the Commission of “turning a deaf ear” to their concerns.
“Once and for all the Commission will actually listen to us, and we can start discussions,” she said of her hopes for continued negotiations around the regulations.
The gamble may be well calculated. Several member states are hesitant to embrace the directive as written by the Commission, meaning it may not be approved by the EU Council.
Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said in a speech on Tuesday that the EU needed to “hit the pause button” on the Nature Restoration Regulation. De Croo is facing re-election in 2024, and Belgium is slated to take over the EU Council presidency in January following Spain’s current presidency. The Council is expected to conclude its talks on the regulation at its June 20th meeting.