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Ecosystem restoration is vital for combating climate change and the loss of biodiversity
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The draft law does not require the creation of new protected areas in the EU
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Specified targets can be postponed if exceptional socio-economic consequences arise
By 2030, the EU must implement nature restoration measures covering at least 20% of land and sea areas, MEPs believe.
Following the debate held on Tuesday, Parliament today adopted its position on the proposed https://www.europarl.europa.eu/plenary/en/vod.html with 336 votes in favour, 300 against and 13 abstentions. Prior to this, MEPs voted against a proposal to reject the Commission's proposal (312 in favour, 324 against and 12 abstaining).
MEPs stress that ecosystem restoration is essential for combating climate change and the loss of biodiversity, and also reduces threats to food security.
They emphasise that the law must not impose the creation of new protected areas in the European Union or block the construction of new renewable energy infrastructure, and to this end, they demand the addition of a new article to the law stating that the deployment of such installations is in the public interest.
Nature restoration targets for 2030
Parliament stresses that the new legislation must contribute to the implementation of the EU's international commitments, in particular the UN Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. MEPs support the Commission's proposal to implement restoration measures by 2030 that cover at least 20% of all EU land and sea areas.
Parliament points out that the law should only be applied once the Commission has provided data on the conditions guaranteeing long-term food security in the EU, and once EU member states have calculated the area each must restore to meet the specific restoration targets set for each habitat. Parliament also requests the possibility to postpone the achievement of the set targets if the measures lead to exceptional economic or social consequences.
Within 12 months of this regulation entering into force, the Commission will be required to assess the gap between financial needs for restoration and available EU funding and to seek solutions to address this discrepancy through a dedicated EU instrument.
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