Plans for a far-reaching EU environmental protection law are in danger of failing. The European Parliament’s Environment Committee did not get a majority for the project on Tuesday. Exactly half of the committee members were in favor of the project, the other half against, as Parliament announced on Tuesday. The project is now expected to be voted on in the plenary session of the EU Parliament in July. If there is no majority there either, the proposed law could be put on hold for longer.
Above all, the Christian Democrats are up in arms against the project, which they believe does not take enough account of the needs of farmers. But the right-wing national ID parliamentary group, to which the AfD belongs, conservatives and parts of the liberals are also against the so-called law for the restoration of nature. Thousands of scientists, environmental organizations, large companies and even some farmers’ associations, such as the Greens and Social Democrats, are in favor of the law.
It is intended to protect ecosystems from collapse. It aims, for example, to rewet drained moors, reforest forests and bring more greenery to cities. Among other things, this is intended to curb climate change and counteract the ongoing extinction of species.
Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke described it as disappointing that the committee did not approve the law. All over Europe you can see and feel how much nature and thus people are already suffering from the consequences of the climate crisis, said the Green politician. She accused the Christian Democrats of blocking politics.
With a view to the vote in plenary, Green MEP Jutta Paulus called for: “All MEPs who stand up for protection against drought, fire and flood disasters and for long-term food security must support the EU law to save nature.” Her CDU colleague Christine Schneider, on the other hand, emphasized that the proposal would lead to less agricultural and forest land “and thus endanger our food security.”
