The European Commission’s decision to delay introducing a key new law has met with a drastically different response.
It comes after the EC announced a postponement of the implementation of the EU regulation to combat deforestation by 12 months.
The regulation, which lays down due diligence obligations for companies importing raw materials and products into the internal market to ensure that they no longer contribute to deforestation, is seen as a key element of the European Green Deal.
The Socialist group, though, says it is deeply concerned by the EU proposal to delay its implementation.
The Commission insists that the delay will not challenge the law’s objectives or its substance.
But the S&D group says the move introduces a risk of reopening the legislation – an unnecessary and dangerous course of action.
Christophe Clergeau, S&D co-vice-president for the Green Deal, said: “The S&D Group strongly condemns the Commission’s mismanagement of the EU deforestation law implementation process. This delay could have been avoided had President Von der Leyen issued the necessary guidelines for affected businesses and countries in a timely manner.”
“The S&D Group will oppose any attempt to reopen or weaken the substance of the EU deforestation law. The S&Ds do not expect the Commission to ask for a delay but to do its job and propose a concrete, effective and credible action plan to implement the legislation.”
The Greens are also incensed by last week’s decision.
Comment came from Anna Cavazzini, Greens/EFA MEP, Chair of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and European Parliament IMCO Rapporteur on the file.
She said, “The events surrounding the law on deforestation-free supply chains are a tragedy. First, Ursula von der Leyen has been holding back the implementing provisions, namely key guidance documents, that are important for companies for months. This was irresponsible, as it fed into the narrative that the regulation needed to be delayed.And now, because the time until the implementation date is becoming ever shorter and the pressure ever greater, she is proposing a postponement of the important law.”
However, industry has welcomed the move.
The pulp and paper sector, for instance, says the announcement “offers an occasion to develop a stronger framework to fight deforestation.”
The European Parliament and EU Council will still need to confirm the delayed phase-in but Jori Ringman, Cepi Director General, says, The EUDR is too important not to get it right.
He adds, “We certainly do not ignore the environmental crisis and the climate emergency, which the EUDR is designed to help solve. Nor is our industry a source of deforestation. From a business angle, deforestation is major reputational risk which for any industry; our industry also depends on healthy forests for our own future.”
“We fully support the objectives of the EUDR, and with this new timeline, we believe that the EU and its trade partners now have a much better chance at finally eradicating deforestation.”
Elsewhere, the Swedish Forest Industries Federation (SFIF) said it too welcomes the additional 12 months proposed by the Commission to ensure proper implementation of the Regulation.
A spokesman said, “President von der Leyen stated in her political Guidelines for the next European Commission 2024-2029 the need to make business easier and faster – reducing administrative burdens and simplifying implementation. SFIF acknowledges today’s announcement to be a first step in that direction.”
