Stricter regulations to protect forests from products like cocoa and timber are facing opposition, leading the EU Parliament to consider changes. The CDU’s proposal for “non-risk countries,” supported by the far-right AfD, could relax regulations, raising concerns among environmentalists. The legislation aims to prevent deforestation by requiring due diligence statements for certain products. While Germany backs a delay in implementation, technical voting issues have complicated the process, leaving uncertainty about compliance and classification for businesses.
Stricter regulations aimed at safeguarding forests are expected to be implemented soon for various products, including cocoa and timber. However, this initiative has faced considerable backlash, prompting the EU Parliament to consider modifications to the proposal. Notably, the CDU’s proposal gained traction with significant backing from the AfD.
The European Parliament has largely supported delaying the introduction of a new law designed to protect rainforests. Additionally, members are advocating for further amendments to the already established proposal.
Recent amendments accepted by the center-right coalition EVP, which includes the CDU and CSU, suggest the creation of a category for “non-risk countries.” This would result in significantly relaxed regulations for products sourced from these nations. Environmental advocates view these proposed changes as a substantial loophole, potentially leading to environmentally destructive deforestation.
Support for CDU Proposal Driven by AfD Votes
The support for the CDU proposal came primarily from the far-right, as other pro-European parliamentary factions rejected the initiative. Without the votes from several AfD members, CDU politician Christine Schneider’s proposal regarding zero-risk countries would not have achieved the necessary majority, according to official voting records from the European Parliament.
Schneider’s four additional amendments also relied on AfD votes to secure a majority. In response to inquiries from the news agency dpa, Schneider defended her position, stating that she does not collaborate with far-right groups. “In the past, we have seen instances where the far-right has supported the left in Parliament,” she noted.
Green Party representative Jutta Paulus criticized this strategy, labeling it a breach of the so-called firewall. According to Paulus, the center-right coalition EVP is “building bridges to the right from the rubble.”
A recent forest protection report revealed that in 2023, deforestation occurred on an area equivalent to the size of Latvia worldwide.
Emphasis on Forest Protection
Under the proposed legislation, products like coffee, wood, soy, cocoa, and palm oil may only be marketed in the EU if they have not led to deforestation since 2020. This measure aims to significantly curb deforestation, particularly in the Amazon rainforest in South America. Companies will be required to submit a due diligence statement confirming that their products did not result in any forest clearing or damage after December 31, 2020.
Firms that fail to comply with these regulations could face hefty fines, amounting to at least four percent of their annual turnover in the EU. If the proposed postponement is approved, the law would take effect on December 30, 2025, for larger companies and on June 30, 2026, for micro and small enterprises, as announced by authorities in Brussels.
Urgency Surrounding Legislative Changes
The EU member states involved in this legislation are also pushing for a one-year postponement of the proposal. Germany supports this delay. However, they are not in favor of further changes, resulting in the need for renewed negotiations on the already established law. This could lead to significant complications: without a timely consensus, the law may be implemented as initially planned in 2025.
Such a scenario would create substantial challenges for companies that were preparing for the anticipated delay. Sectors like confectionery and newspaper publishing have voiced concerns about insufficient time to adapt. This is largely due to the EU Commission’s late release of supplementary guidelines for businesses. Additionally, the software intended for companies to transmit their data remains unavailable.
Currently, there is also uncertainty regarding the classification of Germany and other EU nations as low-risk for forest cover. This classification would greatly ease documentation requirements for businesses. Due to the concerns expressed by the business community, the EU Commission proposed the postponement of the law in early October.
Research indicates that numerous countries lack sufficient personnel to implement an EU directive effectively.
Technical Issues Complicate Voting Process
The recent voting was marred by technical issues, with several members of parliament reporting problems with their voting machines. Nevertheless, Parliament President Roberta Metsola decided against conducting a repeat vote.
A request for confirmation on whether any amendments received majority support solely due to these technical difficulties remains unanswered for now.
This topic was discussed by Deutschlandfunk on November 14, 2024, at 1:00 PM.