Brussels – EU political developments today spell trouble for global efforts to protect the world’s vulnerable ecosystems, warned Greenpeace.
MEPs voted to delay and weaken the EU deforestation regulation, a 2023 law that ensures products sold in the EU do not cause the destruction of forests or the violation of human rights. The law’s application will now be delayed for another full year, having already been postponed once.
Greenpeace EU senior legal strategist Andrea Carta said: “The damage is done: thousands of hectares of forest will be lost forever, but the core of the law remains intact and so does its potential to create real systemic change for forest protection. Now it’s time for the Commission, national authorities and companies to make sure the law is implemented by the end of 2026 to break the link between EU consumption and deforestation once and for all. The EU’s credibility is on the line and failure is not an option.”
The delay and weakening of the deforestation law make the EU trade agreement with forest-rich Mercosur countries even more unacceptable and raise the stakes for MEPs to reject the deal. The unpopular deal continues to face determined opposition in Europe from countries such as France, Poland, Ireland, Hungary and Austria, as well as from a large number of MEPs. No date has yet been set for the EU’s signature of the agreement or for MEPs to ratify it.
Contacts:
Andrea Carta, Greenpeace EU senior legal strategist: [email protected]
Greenpeace EU press desk: +32 (0)2 274 1911, [email protected]
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Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning network that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. We do not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties. Greenpeace has over three million supporters, and 26 independent national and regional organisations with offices in more than 55 countries.
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