The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers’ Association (INHFA) has said it is “ironic” that the actions of other EU member states could be what “saves” rural Ireland from the Nature Restoration Law (NRL).
The farm organisation was reacting to the latest developments on the controversial law yesterday (Friday, March 23), in which EU member states decided to postpone a vote that was scheduled for Monday (March 25) due to a lack of support for the law, as reported by Agriland yesterday.
That vote in the Council of the EU (also known as the Council of Ministers) would have seen member states give the final green light to the law, after the European Parliament gave its final backing late last month to the controversial proposal, which was originally put forward by the European Commission in June 2022.
However, opposition towards the law has grown among member states in recent weeks, culminating in the decision yesterday to call off Monday’s vote.
It is understood that only a change of voting intention over the weekend – by those member states who are not supporting the law at the moment – will get the vote back on the agenda for Monday.
If there is not vote on Monday, the next meeting of environment ministers (which is the ministerial grouping in the council responsible for the NRL) will not get a chance to vote again until their next scheduled meeting on June 17.
As this is after the European Parliament elections, which could significantly change the EU political landscape, it leaves the future of the law in considerable doubt.
Ireland is not one of the countries that are withholding their support, and the country was set to vote in favour of the law on Monday.
INHFA president Vincent Roddy told Agriland: “At national level it is disappointing but not surprising to see our ministers and government continuing to support this flawed law, and [it is] ironic that the actions of other EU countries could be what saves our farming communities and rural Ireland.”
Roddy welcomed the development that there is an apparent lack of support for the law in the council.
“We are not aware of any proposed EU Law that has seen such resistance both at parliament and council level and it is time for the commission to finally listen to elected representatives and abandon this law,” he added.