Deforestation: EPP hacking away at forest protection

Today, MEPs voted on the reopening of the regulation against imported deforestation. Following the Commission's proposal to postpone its entry into force and simplify it, numerous amendments were put to the vote by MEPs today. The Greens/EFA regret the reopening of this law, which should have been implemented before the end of the year.

Marie Toussaint, shadow rapporteur on the EUDR and Vice-President of the Greens/EFA, comments:

"The EPP is proving that its aim is indeed to unravel the text on deforestation by once again joining forces with the far right on certain amendments and refusing to defend the Commission's proposal. Amendment after amendment, the EPP is dismantling the legislation piece by piece. The European Commission has taken unnecessary risks by refusing to opt for a strictly technical solution to its IT problem.

“The Greens/EFA urge the Commission to withdraw its proposal and protect the integrity of the EU regulation on deforestation. This instability undermines businesses and partner countries and weakens one of the Green Deal’s key tools.”