The European Parliament voted on Wednesday 12 July in favour of the bill that aims to restore the ecosystems of the European Union (EU), despite strong opposition from MEPs of the European People's Party.
MEPs adopted the bill with 336 votes in favour (300 against and 13 abstentions). They will now have to negotiate the final text with EU member states in order to reach an agreement before the 2024 parliamentary elections.
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The bill, which aims to restore the natural environments of the bloc's countries – 81% are considered to be in poor condition – has sparked a heated debate, with MEPs and some governments opposing it and questioning whether the EU is imposing too many environmental regulations on industry.
EPP opposes bill
The European People's Party (EPP), which brings together the most MEPs in the European Parliament, was opposed to the bill, arguing that it would threaten agricultural production and endanger food security. The European Commission and scientists have rejected these conclusions.
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Before the vote, EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius warned against rejecting the text, which he said would damage the EU's credibility on the international stage.
At the UN summit in Montreal in December, member states set 23 targets to preserve biodiversity, including an agreement to protect 30% of the world's land and seas by the end of the decade.
With Reuters
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