[ad_1]
The European Union’s major plan to combat climate change and strengthen nature protection across the 27-nation bloc was postponed indefinitely on Monday, as farmers’ protests spread across the continent ahead of EU parliamentary elections in June. It has become clear what kind of influence it has on politics.
Member states were due to give final approval to the bill on Monday after months of navigating the EU’s institutional maze. But what was supposed to be just a rubber stamp ended up being shelved, perhaps forever.
“(Planning) is in a very difficult position at the moment, and with the European elections coming up, it will not be easy to get out of this position,” Dutch Climate Minister Rob Jetten said. The nature recovery plan is a key 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 aims to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, and requires short-term changes and sacrifices from all parts of society to reap gains in a generation.
“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. .
Even if the plan stalled in the EU’s complicated approval process, a watered-down version was expected to pass the final vote.
Until Monday, that threshold had long been considered safe under complex voting rules that require a qualified majority representing 15 of the 27 member states and 65% of the population.
“Since Hungary changed its vote, it seems we no longer have a qualified majority. We need to understand why they would do this,” said Belgian regional climate minister Alain, who chaired the EU environment ministers meeting. Maron said.
This change of heart comes as the Russian war makes food security and self-sufficiency once again essential, with farmers across the bloc claiming a series of environmental laws governing working methods are driving farmers into bankruptcy. This comes after weeks of persistent protests. The war in Ukraine intensifies.
“It is very important for member states to remain flexible,” Hungarian Environment Minister Aniko Rais said on Monday. 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 adopted by 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.
Despite droughts, floods and heatwaves that have hit much of Europe, the postponement of the vote suggests that these environmental measures to protect economic competitiveness may be suspended.
___
Associated Press climate and environment reporting receives support from several private foundations. Learn more about AP’s climate change efforts. AP is solely responsible for all content.
[ad_2]
Source link
