In April 2023, European Forest Owners’ and Managers’ had shared joint recommendations to the co-legislators on the 2022’s proposal of the European Commission for an EU Regulation on Nature Restoration. The key concerns and reflections were the following:
- Restoration targets and obligations should be based on the proper assessment of needs for restoration, in line with international commitments and local context, including land availability;
- Non-deterioration targets must be pragmatic;
- Climate change adaptation requirements must be better incorporated in the proposal;
- Forest restoration monitoring and reporting should be scientifically sound and in line with existing monitoring tools and processes;
- Flexibility in the national restoration plans should be strengthened;
- Assessment and provision of financial needs, including for human capacity is essential.
On 20 June, the Environment Ministers agreed on a General Approach in Council. No formal vote on the general approach took place but five Member States voiced their opposition (FI, IT, NL, PL, SE ), and two signalled that they would have abstained (AT and BE). Overall, the General Approach contains several significant improvements, but concerns remain on core aspects.
Few weeks later, the European Parliament set its position. Ahead of the vote, CEPF and its Members published a statement. Following a long Debate on 11 July, the Members of European Parliament voted on 12 July first on whether to reject the proposal of the EU Commission (which was narrowly not adopted by a 12-votes majority, out of 648 MEPs) and then voted on more than hundred amendments. The text adopted by the European Parliament base itself on the General Approach of the Council which is amended for several parts. CEPF published a press release following its outcomes.
With the European Parliament endorsing significant parts of the Council’s General Approach, and the European Commission working as neutral broker, trialogue negotiations will likely be eased.
European forest owners trust that the changes adopted by the Parliament will contribute to a workable final text, addressing the views of those who will bear the responsibility of the implementation.
