MEPs are preparing to vote on the contentious EU Nature Restoration Law during a plenary session of the EU Parliament today. The Nature Restoration Law was initially proposed by the EU Commission on June 22, 2022, as part of the European Green Deal. The aim of the proposal is to restore damaged ecosystems across the EU by setting specific targets for the restoration of habitats that are capable of capturing carbon, such as peatlands.
Last month, the proposed EU law, as amended, was rejected by members of the EU Parliament’s Environment, Public Health, and Food Safety (ENVI) committee. This rejection followed the rejection of the directive by the agriculture and fisheries committee.
Yesterday, farmers and environmental campaigners held rallies in Strasbourg, France, while MEPs debated the Nature Restoration Law in the parliament ahead of today’s vote. Two separate demonstrations took place, one by the agricultural umbrella group Copa-Cogeca and another by Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg’s Fridays for Future group.
Today, MEPs will first vote on whether to outright reject the proposed directive. If the law is approved, there will then be a series of votes on various amendments that have been tabled. These amendments include the position taken by the European Council, which is supported by the Irish government.
The European People’s Party (EPP), the largest political group in the EU Parliament, has instructed its members to vote against the EU Nature Restoration Law. However, it seems that Irish Fine Gael MEPs, who are part of the EPP, may defy this directive. Colm Markey, an Irish Fine Gael MEP, has previously stated that he believes the EU Council’s current position on the Nature Restoration Law is the closest proposal available to achieving a practical and fit-for-purpose law.
Seán Kelly, an Irish Fine Gael MEP from Ireland South, announced last night that he plans to vote in favor of the proposed Nature Restoration Law. He explained on Twitter that he cannot vote to reject the law because the council has made significant improvements to the original proposal. Kelly emphasized that important amendments have been put forward in the European Parliament, and rejecting the law outright would mean missing the opportunity to vote on these amendments. He believes that a careful examination of the proposals and amendments can lead to a favorable outcome.
Grace O’Sullivan, an Irish South MEP from the Green Party, called on her fellow MEPs to show more courage in climate action. She highlighted that the Citizens’ Assembly in Ireland explicitly called for the approval of a strong EU Nature Restoration Law. O’Sullivan urged MEPs to listen to the younger generation of Europeans who are demanding the same. She emphasized the importance of political leadership in addressing the climate crisis and warned that failure to act would raise serious questions.
In conclusion, MEPs are facing a crucial vote on the EU Nature Restoration Law, which aims to restore damaged ecosystems and combat climate change. The outcome of the vote will determine the future of this proposed law and its impact on the environment. Irish MEPs, particularly those from Fine Gael, are facing a dilemma as they consider whether to follow their party’s directive or vote in favor of the law based on their own assessment of the amendments and proposals. The decision they make will have significant implications for Ireland’s stance on environmental issues and its commitment to climate action.