This Wednesday, the EU ambassadors would deal with a nature conservation law. However, the vote was postponed at short notice as some governments mobilized against the so-called renaturation law. Austria abstains from voting due to a decision by the federal states.
The Nature Restoration Act has been under negotiation for years. An agreement has also already been reached – with a committee consisting of representatives of the EU Council, the EU Parliament and the EU Commission, which always plays a role when a final compromise has to be negotiated (see video above). As such negotiations continue to fail, legislation needs to be restarted.
In this case, the agreement apparently did not help. In any case, the law has not yet been passed and the vote has been postponed – possibly until next Friday.
More reforestation, recovery plans
But what is it all about? For example, the EU has set itself the target of restoring at least 20 percent of land and sea areas by 2030, and all threatened ecosystems by 2050. These include forests, meadows, rivers, lakes and coral reefs. In addition, at least 30 percent of the habitats covered by the law must be restored to good condition by 2030. To achieve these objectives, national recovery plans are needed. The specific measures must be explained in detail.
In the future, more forests will be reforested, heathlands re-watered and rivers restored to their natural state. Negotiators from the European Parliament and EU countries agreed on the corresponding demands in November. The compromise was approved at the end of February. There is now no formal consent from the EU countries.
15 Member States must agree
The planned law must first be adopted by the committee before EU environment ministers can give the green light. The majority requires the agreement of at least 15 member states, which must represent at least 65 percent of the population. The vote of a densely populated country like Germany counts more than, for example, the vote of Luxembourg. Austria abstains completely from voting due to a corresponding decision by the Länder. The German government’s position is still unclear due to disagreements.
The biggest headwind at the moment probably comes from the Belgian government. The governments of Finland, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands and Poland also previously opposed the new law.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
