The conservative European People’s Party (EPP) Group in the European Parliament has welcomed the proposal to postpone what it describes as the ‘flawed’ EU Deforestation Regulation for the second year in a row.
The EPP Group said that the decision to further postpone the EUDR is an indication that the “problems of the Deforestation Regulation run deep,” commented Christine Schneider MEP, the European Parliament’s lead negotiator on the file.
“A key step in a necessary revision of the deforestation regulation is the introduction of a zero-risk category,” she added. “Regions and products that pose no risk of deforestation must be treated in an unbureaucratic manner and without additional documentation requirements. Only in this way can the regulation have a targeted effect without burdening those who can demonstrate that they operate in a sustainable and responsible manner.”
Elsewhere, Peter Liese MEP, the EPP Group’s spokesman on environment, suggested that had it entered into force at the start of next year, the EUDR “would have caused unsolvable problems for many small foresters, farmers, and small and medium-sized enterprises, such as medium-sized coffee roasters”.
He noted that while the goal of stopping deforestation is important, “a bureaucratic monster weakens the acceptance of European environmental policy”.
‘Unacceptable’ delay
Elsewhere, the liberal Socialists & Democrats Group said that the postponement of the EUDR for another year is ‘unacceptable’, adding that the decision undermines the EU’s climate and environmental commitments.
“Delaying the implementation of the deforestation regulation yet again would be a major setback for European environmental policy and for fair competition for sustainable businesses,” commented Delara Burkhardt, S&D lead negotiator on the EU Deforestation Regulation.
“Commission President Ursula von der Leyen must know that by bowing to the EPP and the far right, the cooperation of pro-European forces at the political centre is put at risk. It also raises the question whether the Commission President is giving in to Washington’s demands for deregulation in Europe as pushed for by the US administration during the negotiations for a trade deal.
“Just ahead of the UN climate conference in Brazil, in the heart of the Amazon, the EU is sending the wrong signal. Rather than leading the global fight against deforestation, the Commission is undermining Europe’s credibility and position as a role model.”
‘Startling coincidence’
Elsewhere, Isabel Fernandez, senior consultant at activist group Mighty Earth said that it was a “startling coincidence that just after the European Commission signs trade deals with the US and Indonesia, it moves to delay the EUDR once again, conveniently blaming IT problems.”
She described the proposed one-year delay as “totally unacceptable”, adding that it “massively disadvantages the companies and countries which have gone all out to be ready for implementation in December of this year. It also ignores the will of EU citizens who don’t want to buy products tied to deforestation. This proposal – at a time when we are experiencing a climate, nature and deforestation crisis and after the record-breaking fires in Europe this summer – should be firmly rejected.”
EUDR delay
Originally scheduled to come into effect in December 2024, then pushed back by 12 months, the EUDR seeks to restrict the use of commodities linked to deforestation, including coffee, beef, soy, and palm oil.
Commenting on the postponement, Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall said companies still face major challenges in gathering supply chain data and that more time is needed to avoid disruption. Read more here and here.
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