2023-06-16 05:55:00
The nature restoration law, which has become the pivot of a political battle in the European Parliament, was not rejected on Thursday morning. But there are still many hurdles before Frans Timmermans, architect of the law, can introduce it. A long series of votes on a pile of possible compromises lasted so long on Thursday that a postponement was necessary. In two weeks the EP will vote further.
One thing is certain: the law is not going straight into the trash. Dutch MEPs Jan Huitema (VVD), Esther de Lange (CDA), Rob Roos and Rob Rooken of Ja21, together with others, voted to reject the proposal of European Commissioner Frans Timmermans.
The right flank is once morest
That proposal failed. Of the 88 members of the European Parliament’s environment committee, 44 voted in favor and 44 once morest the plan to block the law in Strasbourg on Thursday. That does not mean that the European Parliament can start negotiations with the member states on the law following the blockages of 27 June, because there are still more hurdles to overcome before that can happen. All 705 MPs still have to vote on it, for example.
The Nature Restoration Act is a law that aims to strengthen nature in Europe, so that the continent is more resilient to drought or flooding. The intention is that member states themselves draw up plans in which they state how they intend to do this. For the Netherlands, it is intended that it will mean little change, but Dutch politicians from the right wing are still strongly once morest it.
The CDA in particular believes that the law can be interpreted more strictly by a judge than it is intended. The party also believes that citizens cannot process even more environmental and nature legislation. The VVD mainly fears that a new nitrogen crisis is imminent due to possible legal proceedings.
Fight fiercer
In recent weeks, the European Commission has tried to meet the objections of the Christian Democrats, but they have maintained their position. The word ‘prohibition of deterioration’, which aroused much resentment, became an ‘effort obligation’, but that also appears not to be enough for the European Christian Democrats and some of the liberals.
Their battle with the parties on the other side of the spectrum has become increasingly fierce in recent weeks, making it more difficult to reach compromises. Nevertheless, it seems that this will have to be looked for once more in the near future, because the majority of the proposed compromise texts were also rejected by 44 once morest 44 votes.
‘When will the penny drop for Frans Timmermans?’
“The fact that the nature restoration law is still in place is good news,” says Mohammed Chahim of the PvdA. “I hope that the CDA will return to the table in the coming weeks instead of blindly following climate deniers out of electoral desperation.”
But Chahim’s opponent Esther de Lange of the CDA does not intend to back down quickly. “When will the penny drop for Frans Timmermans? This is the wrong way,” she says.
There will be a follow-up in two weeks. In the meantime, the member states must also determine their negotiating position on this law. That is on the agenda of the environment ministers next Tuesday, but that can also be postponed.
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