© BELGIUM
Flemish Minister of the Environment Zuhal Demir (N-VA) will propose to the government not to approve the European nature restoration law in its current form. New impact analyzes indicate that there may be undesirable negative consequences for the granting of permits in Flanders, she reported in a press release on Friday.
Source: BELGA
Yesterday at 8:13 PM
“The risks for the granting of permits in Flanders remain too great and I will therefore propose to the government not to approve the European nature restoration law in this form. Our heart for nature remains great, but it still has to be legally workable,” says Demir. “Fortunately, we do not need additional laws to shape our ambitious policy in the field of nature restoration and protection.”
Demir had announced a new impact analysis after negotiators from member states and the European Parliament reached a compromise on the law in November last year. That analysis “still points to the expected broad interpretation of the deterioration ban and the so-called best efforts obligation in the proposal,” it said. “In addition, additional measures on top of the nature recovery plans remain possible at the request of the European Commission. The consequences for future licensing frameworks therefore remain difficult to estimate and are more likely to become more stringent.”
Minister Demir will propose to the Flemish government not to approve the text. There she is expected to receive the support of coalition partners Open VLD and CD&V, who have been opposed to the regulation for some time.
The proposal has now entered the final phase in the European institutions. In November, Belgium had to abstain when the ambassadors of the member states ratified the compromise. In the European Parliament, the compromise has now been approved by a large majority in the Environment Committee. The plenary vote is scheduled for later this month. Afterwards, the Member States can give their final approval.
The Nature Restoration Act is intended to slow down and restore the decline of European nature. The agreement between member states and Parliament means that EU countries must restore at least 20 percent of Europe’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems that need restoration by 2050. At least 30 percent of the habitat types that will be covered by the new law will have to be restored to good condition by 2030, 60 percent by 2040 and 90 percent by 2050.