The European Union's ambitious nature restoration law has hit a major roadblock after Hungary unexpectedly withdrew its support, causing the decision to proceed with the legislation to be canceled.
Scheduled for a vote at a meeting of EU countries' environment ministers in Brussels, the law aimed to require member states to restore nature on a fifth of their land and sea by 2030. However, Hungary's withdrawal eliminated the slim majority needed to pass the bill, leaving ministers uncertain about the next steps.
The nature law is part of a broader series of EU environmental policies that have faced opposition, particularly from farmers protesting against stringent green regulations. Despite efforts to amend the law, concerns over costs remain a significant barrier.
\"The agricultural sector is a very important sector, not only in Hungary, but everywhere in Europe,\" said Hungary's state secretary for environment, Aniko Raisz. She highlighted the financial burdens the law could impose on farmers.
Alain Maron, the Belgian environment minister who chaired the discussions, expressed uncertainty about how to gain support from dissenting countries. \"We don't know exactly what are some reasons to be against this law for certain countries … it's possible that they change their mind,\" he told the media.
Virginijus Sinkevicius, the EU environment commissioner, warned that shelving the law would undermine the EU's credibility in international climate negotiations. \"We are fooling ourselves if we pretend that we can win our fight against climate change without nature,\" he asserted.
Countries opposing the law include Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden, while Austria, Belgium, Finland, and Poland intend to abstain. With the remaining 27 member states in support, the outcome now hinges on whether any of the eight opposing countries will alter their stance.
Spanish climate minister Teresa Ribera criticized the move, stating it would be a \"huge irresponsibility\" to reduce efforts to combat nature loss and climate change. The law's failure to pass at this late stage is highly unusual and signals potential challenges ahead for the EU's environmental initiatives.
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EU countries split over nature law in latest blow to green agenda
cgtn.com
