Momentum is building across Europe for a reassessment of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), with numerous Agriculture Ministers, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), and stakeholders calling for a more workable and legally clear framework.
Agri ministers raise concerns about disproportionality of the EUDR’s measures
An "Any Other Business" (AOB) point, added by Austria and Luxembourg to the 26 May AGRIFISH Council meeting, gained the support of nine Member States. They expressed concerns that the EUDR's measures may be disproportionate to its objective of preventing deforestation where it actually occurs. Additional Member States echoed these concerns during the meeting. As a result, a significant number of Agri ministers urged the European Commission to include the regulation in its simplification agenda.
On 7 July, these calls were reiterated in a joint letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, co-signed by 18 Agriculture Ministers. The letter emphasised the need for a pragmatic and feasible approach to EUDR implementation.
Read the AOB item for the meeting of the "Agriculture and Fisheries" Council of 26 May 2025 here.
European Parliament supports resolution to revise Country Benchmarking
On 9 July, the European Parliament adopted a resolution (373 in favour, 289 against, 26 abstentions) introduced by MEP Alexander Bernhuber (EPP, Austria), calling for a reassessment of the EUDR’s country benchmarking system. The resolution questions the methodology and criteria used to classify countries as high-, standard-, or low-risk under the regulation.
Read the motion for a resolution here
EU-stakeholders, including CEPF, urge legal revision
On 8 July, CEPF, along with 15 EU stakeholders, issued a joint statement urging the European Commission to include a legislative revision of the EUDR in its 2025 simplification package.
Read the joint statement here
