The largest group of political parties in the European Parliament, which includes Fine Gael as one of its members, has announced that it is pulling out of negotiations on the Nature Restoration Law.
The European People’s Party (EPP) group has decided to withdraw from the negotiations on the planned law after the most recent round of talks with other political groups.
“The proposal was bad in the first place and our concerns remain unanswered”, its chairperson in the parliament, German MEP Manfred Weber, said this afternoon (Wednesday, May 31)
These remarks were echoed by the group’s chief negotiator on nature restoration, fellow German MEP Christine Schneider.
The EPP has raised a series of concerns about the European Commission’s proposals over recent months.
Speaking this afternoon, Weber said: “The Nature Restoration Law in its current form will lead to less food production in Europe, pushing food prices even higher; risks undermining food security in Africa even more; and [will] block infrastructure projects that are crucial for our climate transition.
“This is simply not acceptable for us. We cannot continue as if nothing has happened to our economy since the start of the war [between Russia and Ukraine] and the excessive pressure it puts on our rural communities and our farmers,” the EPP chairperson added.
“The EPP Group is in favour of nature protection and restoration, but this law is simply not good enough.”
His colleague, Schneider, said: “The law was poorly drafted in the first place and is an attack on European agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Some proposals, such as the prohibition of deterioration, have already failed rural communities in Europe’s Natura 2000 legislation.
She added: “Why repeat the same mistakes? We have to take our farmers, foresters, fishermen and all citizens on board.”
“The European Commission cannot expect the EPP to simply accept the proposal without a comprehensive impact assessment on food security, reduced farmland, and the renewable energy roll-out.”
The German MEP said that the need for an assessment “is not negotiable”.
“If the commission is serious about nature restoration, it should come up with a new proposal as soon as possible,” Schneider added.