A former EU environment commissioner has raised concerns over the European Union’s recent decision to delay its landmark deforestation law. Virginijus Sinkevičius, the Lithuanian MEP and vice-president of the European Parliament’s Green group, warned that the delay undermines the credibility of EU decision-making and may incentivize industries to delay action on environmental protection. The delay to the deforestation law poses a significant challenge to the EU’s green agenda, which is increasingly threatened by political and industrial pressures.
Why Is Sinkevičius Concerned About Backsliding?
Sinkevičius, who was instrumental in drafting the deforestation law, strongly disagreed with the decision to amend the law. The amendment grants companies an additional year to ensure their products are not linked to deforestation. The new deforestation law, which aims to ban the sale in the EU of commodities such as cocoa, coffee, soy, palm oil, and rubber—along with products like chocolate, leather, and furniture—had already undergone extensive negotiations to gain support.
“Every EU law is born through a complicated negotiation where everyone needs to give ground a bit,” Sinkevičius said. “A last-minute change does not give credibility to the EU’s decision-making.”
What Are the Consequences of the Law's Delay?
Last month, the European Union agreed to delay the implementation of the deforestation law for a year, following significant lobbying from industries and forested countries worldwide. Sinkevičius argued that the delay rewards those who have not made sufficient efforts to comply with the legislation, threatening the credibility of the EU’s green agenda.
“Problems with implementing the law could have been addressed with a grace period rather than reopening negotiations,” he stated. “That additional year was a bit of a reward to those who did not try hard enough to comply with the deforestation law.”
How Does the Delay Impact Fair Business Practices?
Sinkevičius emphasized the importance of the new deforestation law for creating fair competition in the marketplace. He pointed out that major companies were waiting for the law to be enforced, as it would level the playing field for businesses striving to avoid deforestation, currently facing higher costs than their competitors.
“Businesses trying to avoid deforestation face additional costs, compared to competitors that would ‘cut corners’ on nature protection and yet ‘be on the same shelf in the shop,'” he explained.
What Does Global Deforestation Data Reveal?
The alarming scale of global deforestation underscores the need for such legislation. According to the Forest Declaration Assessment, in 2023 alone, 6.37 million hectares of forests were lost to activities such as cattle raising, crop growing, mining, road building, and devastating fires. This stark reality highlights why the deforestation law is critical to the EU’s ongoing efforts to protect the environment and uphold its green agenda.
Is the EU's Green Agenda Under Threat?
Sinkevičius’ comments come when the European Union faces growing pressure to reverse elements of its green agenda. Within the European Parliament, far-right lawmakers have a rising influence, and they have proposed cancelling the 2035 ban on selling petrol and diesel cars and suspending pollution trading for heavy industry, a CO2 reduction strategy.
“It would be the biggest possible mistake to now shift to reverse gear,” Sinkevičius warned, adding that the “clean industrial deal” promised by the new commission would be “an important first test of how we see our economy of the future.”
How Will the "Clean Industrial Deal" Shape the EU's Economy?
Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, has pledged a “clean industrial deal” to foster competitive industries and create quality jobs, though specific details are still lacking. This initiative is a key moment for the EU’s green transition. Still, Sinkevičius emphasized that it should not come at the expense of nature protection or the deforestation law.
During his tenure as EU environment commissioner, Sinkevičius led the charge on environmental policies but noted the difficulties of balancing business interests with ecological priorities. “Protecting nature is always an uphill battle,” he stated, “as business sees fewer opportunities in conserving soil, forests, seas, and oceans than in investing in clean energy.”
Why Was the Pesticide Use Target Controversial?
An area where Sinkevičius encountered challenges during his time in office was the EU’s target to reduce pesticide use by 50% by 2030. Following protests from farmers, this ambitious target was scrapped. However, Sinkevičius had previously expressed his reservations about the target, calling it “overkill.”
“The 50% reduction target was unfair on member states that had already reduced pesticide use,” he explained. “When I have to cut 50% from a minimal amount, that will be painful… while I see that my neighbour is cutting 50% from 20 times bigger [starting point].”
The draft pesticide law did attempt to account for these differences by setting national targets based on each country’s historical pesticide use.
Can the Greens Bridge Divides in the European Parliament?
As a former commissioner, Sinkevičius aims to bridge divides within the European Parliament between the Greens and other mainstream pro-EU groups such as the centre-right European People’s Party, the Socialists, and the centrist Renew group. Despite the growing influence of far-right lawmakers, Sinkevičius remains optimistic about the Greens’ role in EU politics.
“If you want a truly pro-European coalition, the Greens are your answer because we are stable and reliable,” he said. However, he also acknowledged that the Greens could become more isolated if the centre-right formed alliances further to the right.
Conclusion:
The delay to the EU’s deforestation law raises critical questions about the bloc’s commitment to climate action and nature protection. While Sinkevičius remains hopeful about the EU’s green future, he cautioned against reversing the progress made in recent years. The coming months will be crucial in determining how the EU balances economic growth with environmental sustainability and continues to pursue its green agenda.
Add a Comment