European Parliament guts and delays EUDR
November 14, 2024
It was decision day for the zero-deforestation law known as the EUDR.
To say it’s been a bumpy road of late is an understatement. First the Commission proposed a one-year delay just weeks before the law was due to start being enforced. Then last week, Ursula von der Leyen’s European People’s Party waded in with a raft of destructive amendments designed to gut the legislation.
Julian Oram, Policy Director at Mighty Earth, responding to the results of the vote, said:
“It’s a dark day for Europe’s environmental credentials, stripping the bloc of its role as a global leader in the fight against climate change, biodiversity loss and human rights violations. The inclusion of a new “no risk” category will allow many countries to be considered risk-free, even if deforestation, degradation and illegal practices are still occurring. It is also likely to encourage large-scale smuggling of agricultural commodities from high-risk territories to “no risk” countries, en route to the EU.”
“The approval of these awful amendments now sets in train a dangerous game of cat and mouse between the Parliament, European Commission and member states, with the future of the world’s forests, and the people and wildlife that depend on them for survival, hanging by a thread.”
“Aside from the fact that the worst of the amendments and a one-year delay were adopted, this was not democracy in action today. The votes were very close, but the fate of the world’s forests ended up at the mercy of a technical glitch which saw many MEPs unable to cast their vote, with the chair refusing to re-do the vote. It makes a travesty of the huge “Democracy” slogan on the outside of the European Parliament building.
“Of course, this is by no means a done deal, as the Commission and member states could reject these amendments. The European Commission and its President Ursula von der Leyen must have the conviction and strength of purpose to firmly push back and simply say: “Proposal withdrawn!” Member States should also revert back to Plan A and support the Commission to implement the EUDR without any changes.”
All of this leaves companies and producer countries who have readied themselves for compliance in legal limbo. History will judge these Parliamentary shenanigans badly, while in the meantime forests will fall with all the impacts that brings for the climate and Nature emergencies.”
