EU Faces Resistance as it Tries to Finalize Environment Laws Before Elections
The European Commission is facing resistance from EU countries and lawmakers as it tries to finalize new environment laws before elections in the European Parliament next year.
The proposals include binding targets for natural habitat restoration and a goal to halve chemical pesticide use by 2030.
The European People's Party, the largest group in the European Parliament, has called for the nature law to be scrapped, saying it would hurt farmers.
French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested a pause on new EU environment regulation ahead of the elections.
The Commission has proposed more than 30 laws to deliver green goals and steer countries towards the EU's target to have zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Restored ecosystems such as forests and peatlands can absorb more CO2 emissions.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo stated that addressing climate change should be the top priority, while nature restoration, pesticide control, and soil quality are considered lower ranked.
However, countries are seeking amendments to the nature restoration law to allow for the construction of infrastructure such as wind farms in areas where nature is being restored.
The European Parliament could block the law if other lawmaker groups side with the EPP, and farming groups argue that the EU's increasing environmental demands are not being matched with funding.
The European People's Party, the largest group in the European Parliament, has called for the nature law to be scrapped, saying it would hurt farmers.
French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested a pause on new EU environment regulation ahead of the elections.
The Commission has proposed more than 30 laws to deliver green goals and steer countries towards the EU's target to have zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Restored ecosystems such as forests and peatlands can absorb more CO2 emissions.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo stated that addressing climate change should be the top priority, while nature restoration, pesticide control, and soil quality are considered lower ranked.
However, countries are seeking amendments to the nature restoration law to allow for the construction of infrastructure such as wind farms in areas where nature is being restored.
The European Parliament could block the law if other lawmaker groups side with the EPP, and farming groups argue that the EU's increasing environmental demands are not being matched with funding.
