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BRUSSELS – The European Union’s major plan to strengthen nature protection and combat climate change in the 27-nation bloc was postponed indefinitely on Monday, underscoring how farmers’ protests across the continent are having a deep political impact. It became a relief.
The impasse on the bill, which could undermine the EU’s global standing on the issue, comes less than three months before European elections in June.
Member states were due to give final approval to the biodiversity bill on Monday after months of navigating the EU’s institutional maze. But what was supposed to be just a rubber stamp has now turned into something that could be preserved forever.
A “food march” was held in Kuopio, central Finland, on Friday, with tractors parked in a market square and farmers protesting against perceived inequalities in food production profits. Akseri Mrajja/Retikva (via AP)
“How can we give up on that? How can we say, ‘We have decided not to restore nature’?” Ireland’s environment minister, Eamon Ryan, said he was disappointed. “The failure to protect biodiversity is a shocking statement for the rest of the world,” he added, calling for diplomatic pressure to get the bill belatedly approved.
The chances of that happening weren’t very high.
“It is clear to everyone that there is this big impasse. And given the upcoming elections, it will not be easy to get out of this situation,” said Dutch Climate Minister Rob Jetten.
The Nature Recovery Plan is part of the EU’s European Green Deal, which sets the world’s most ambitious climate and biodiversity targets and aims to make the EU a global reference point on all climate issues.
The bill is part of an overall project for Europe to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, requiring short to medium-term changes and sacrifices in all parts of society to reap benefits in a generation. request.
“If we want to achieve climate neutrality, we also need to look at the broader picture of protecting Europe’s biodiversity and strengthening nature,” Jetten said, underscoring the need for such efforts. .
Ryan agreed.
“Everything is connected,” he said. “We cannot put climate change aside and forget about natural recovery.”
Even if the plan stalled in the EU’s approval process, a watered-down version was expected to pass the final vote.
Under complex voting rules, a qualified majority representing 15 of the 27 member states and 65% of the population was required. Until Monday, the threshold seemed safe.
“Because Hungary changed its vote, it seems that our country no longer has a qualified majority. We need to understand why they would do such a thing,” said Belgian Regional Climate Minister Alain, who chaired the EU Environment Ministers meeting.・Mr. Maron said.
This change of heart comes at a time when food security and self-sufficiency are once again becoming essential in Russia’s war with the United States. This comes after weeks of persistent protests by farmers. Ukraine becomes even more furious.
“It is very important for member states to remain flexible,” Hungarian Environment Minister Aniko Rais said. Asked whether his country might change its position again, Rice said: “I can’t promise anything,” and stressed the importance of the agricultural sector across Europe.
“We have to be realistic and keep all these areas in mind,” she said.
Monday’s postponement was the EU’s latest concession to protests that have affected the daily lives of tens of millions of EU citizens and cost businesses tens of millions of euros in transport delays. Other measures include shelving legislation to tighten pesticide regulations, relaxing farm checks and controls, and requiring some land to fallow.
Under the plan, member states will need to meet recovery targets for specific habitats and species, covering at least 20% of the region’s land and marine areas by 2030. But negotiations were plagued by conflicts over exemptions and flexibility clauses that allow member states to circumvent the rules.
Last month, the bill was passed in the European Parliament by a vote of 329 to 275, with 24 abstentions, after the centre-right Christian Democratic European People’s Party decided to vote against it. Environmentalists and the Green Party were ecstatic, thinking this was the last hurdle.
The postponement of the vote suggests that these environmental measures to protect economic competitiveness may be suspended, even as prolonged droughts, deluges and heatwaves hit much of Europe. There is.
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