SP(2024)270

00074/2023/LEX

Results of vote in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted by 329 votes to 275, with 24 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on nature restoration.

The European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure amends the Commission's proposal as follows:

Aims of nature restoration

The proposed Regulation lays down rules to contribute to:

- the long-term and sustained recovery of biodiverse and resilient ecosystems across the Member States’ land and sea areas through the restoration of degraded ecosystems;

- achieving the Union’s overarching objectives concerning climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation and land degradation neutrality;

- enhancing food security.

This Regulation establishes a framework within which Member States should put in place effective and area-based restoration measures with the aim to jointly cover, as a Union target, throughout the areas and ecosystems within the scope of this Regulation, at least 20 % of land areas and at least 20 % of sea areas by 2030, and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050 .

Restoration of terrestrial, coastal and freshwater ecosystems

To reach the overall EU targets, Member States must restore at least 30% of habitats covered by the new law (from forests, grasslands and wetlands to rivers, lakes and coral beds) from a poor to a good condition by 2030, increasing to 60% by 2040 , and 90% by 2050 . In line with Parliament’s position, EU countries should give priority to Natura 2000 areas until 2030.

Member States should put in place the restoration measures that are necessary to improve to good condition areas of habitat types listed in Annex I which are not in good condition.

If a Member State considers that it is not possible to put in place restoration measures by 2050 that are necessary to reach the favourable reference area for a specific habitat type on 100 % of the surface, the Member State concerned may set a lower percentage at a level between 90 % and 100 % in its national restoration plan and provide adequate justification.

Energy from renewable sources

The proposed Regulation introduces a new article stipulating that the planning, construction and operation of plants for the production of energy from renewable sources, their connection to the grid and the related grid itself, and storage assets should be presumed to be in the overriding public interest .

Member States should be able to exempt such renewable energy projects from the obligation that no less damaging alternative solutions are available for the purposes of the application of those derogations, provided that the projects have been subject to a strategic environmental assessment or an environmental impact assessment.

National defence

When putting in place restoration measures, Member States may exempt areas used for activities the sole purpose of which is national defence if those measures are deemed to be incompatible with the continued military use of the areas in question.

Restoration of urban ecosystems

By 31 December 2030, Member States should ensure that there is no net loss in the total national area of urban green space and of urban tree canopy cover in urban ecosystem areas, compared to the year of entry into force of this Regulation. From 1 January 2031, Member States should achieve an increasing trend in the total national area of urban green space, including through the integration of urban green space into buildings and infrastructure, in urban ecosystem areas.

Restoration of the natural connectivity of rivers and natural functions of the related floodplains

Member States should make an inventory of artificial barriers to the connectivity of surface waters and, taking into account the socio-economic functions of the artificial barriers, identify the barriers that need to be removed to contribute to meeting the restoration targets and fulfilling the objective of restoring at least 25 000 km of rivers into free-flowing rivers in the Union by 2030.

Restoration of pollinator populations

Member States should, by putting in place in a timely manner appropriate and effective measures, improve pollinator diversity and reverse the decline of pollinator populations at the latest by 2030 and thereafter achieve an increasing trend of pollinator populations, measured at least every six years from 2030, until satisfactory levels are achieved.

Restoration of agricultural ecosystems

Member States must make progress on two of the following three indicators: (i) the grassland butterfly index; (ii) the share of agricultural land with high-diversity landscape features; (iii) the stock of organic carbon in cropland mineral soil. They should restore at least 30 % of drained peatlands by 2030 (at least a quarter shall be rewetted), 40% by 2040 and 50% by 2050 (where at least one-third shall be rewetted). Rewetting will remain voluntary for farmers and private landowners.

Restoration of forest ecosystems

Member States should:

- achieve an increasing trend at national level of the common forest bird index;

- put in place the restoration measures necessary to enhance biodiversity of forest ecosystems, in addition to the areas that are subject to restoration measures pursuant to Article 4(1), (4) and (7), while taking into account the risks of forest fires.

- achieve an increasing trend at national level of at least six out of seven of the following indicators for forest ecosystems: (i) standing deadwood; (ii) lying deadwood; (iii) share of forests with uneven-aged structure; (iv) forest connectivity; (v) stock of organic carbon; (vi) share of forests dominated by native tree species; (vii) tree species diversity.

- contribute to the commitment of planting at least three billion additional trees by 2030 at Union level.

National restoration plans

Member States should adopt national restoration plans detailing how they intend to achieve these objectives, taking into account the most recent scientific data. They should coordinate the development of national restoration plans with the mapping of areas that are required in order to fulfil at least their national contributions towards the 2030 renewable energy target and, where relevant, with the designation of the renewables acceleration areas and dedicated infrastructure areas.

Temporary suspension

In order to allow for a rapid and effective response when an unforeseeable, exceptional and unprovoked event occurs that is outside the control of the Union, with severe Union-wide consequences on the availability of land required to secure sufficient agricultural production for Union food consumption, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission in respect of the temporary suspension of the application of the relevant provisions of this Regulation to the extent and for such period as is strictly necessary, up to a maximum of 12 months, while preserving the objectives of this Regulation.

T9-0089/2024

PE758.844

PE758.844

GEDA/A/(2024)000703

The European Parliament adopted by 336 votes to 300, with 13 abstentions, amendments to the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on nature restoration.

A proposal to reject the Commission's proposal was defeated in plenary by 312 votes to 324, with 12 abstentions.

The matter was referred back to the committee responsible for inter-institutional negotiations.

Nature restoration targets for 2030

Members back the Commission's proposal to put in place restoration measures for at least 20% of all land and sea areas in the EU by 2030 , and for all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. The new law must contribute to meeting the EU's international commitments, in particular the United Nations Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

This Regulation lays down rules to contribute to:

- biodiverse, resilient and productive ecosystems across the Member States’ land and sea areas through the restoration of degraded ecosystems;

- achieving the Union’s overarching objectives concerning climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, including food security, energy transition and social housing, and land degradation neutrality.

This Regulation needs to create synergies and be coherent with existing and ongoing legislation, taking into account national competences and ensure consistency and coherence with the Union legislation on among others renewable energies, plant protection products, critical raw materials, agricultural and forestry.

This Regulation only applies to ecosystems in the European territory of the Member States to which the Treaties apply.

Binding targets

The Regulation sets binding targets in seven areas of action, such as the restoration of terrestrial, coastal and freshwater ecosystems, the restoration of marine ecosystems, the restoration of urban ecosystems, the restoration of the natural connectivity of watercourses and the natural functions of adjacent floodplains, the restoration of pollinator populations and the restoration of forest ecosystems, with the aim of reversing the environmental damage caused by human activity and climate change.

Energy from renewable sources

The Regulation does not prevent new renewable energy infrastructure. Members added a new article underlining that the planning, construction and operation of installations for the production of energy from renewable sources, the connection of such installations to the grid and the related grid itself, as well as storage assets, are presumed to be in the overriding public interest .

Member States should exempt such projects from the requirement to demonstrate that there are no less damaging alternatives for the purposes of applying the derogations from the continuous improvement and non-deterioration obligations of the Regulation outside Natura 2000 sites, provided that the projects have been subject to a strategic environmental assessment or an environmental impact assessment.

National defence

Top priority must be given to activities whose sole purpose is national defence or security. When implementing restoration measures, Member States could exempt areas used for activities solely for national defence purposes, if such measures are deemed incompatible with the continued military use of the areas in question.

Review of the national restoration plans

Member States should develop national restoration plans and carry out preparatory monitoring and research to identify the restoration measures needed to contribute to the Union's objectives, taking into account the latest scientific evidence, the needs of local communities, including urban local communities, the most cost-effective measures and the socio-economic impact of those measures. Stakeholders, including landowners and land managers, should be involved at every stage of the process.

Postponement of targets

Parliament provides for the possibility to postpone the targets in the event of exceptional socioeconomic consequences . No later than one year after the date of entry into force of this Regulation and every year thereafter, the Commission should publish a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union concerning whether one or more of the following conditions apply:

- the permitting procedures in one or more Member States fall behind due to constraints from Union nature legislation regarding the following fields:

- the average food price has gone up by 10% over the period of 1 year;

- the total production of food in the Union has reduced by 5% over a period of 1 year.

Where one or more of these conditions apply, the targets under this Regulation should be postponed until all the conditions referred to in that paragraph no longer apply.

Application of the Regulation

Parliament stated that the Regulation should apply:

- from the date where the Commission has provided robust and scientific data to the European Parliament and to the Council on the necessary conditions to guarantee long term food security, thereby respecting the need of arable land under conventional and ecological agriculture, the impact of nature restoration on food production, food availability and food prices;

- from the date where the condition set out in Article 11(2a) is met. The Commission shall publish a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union indicating the date from which this Regulation applies. [Am. 136]

- once EU countries have quantified the area that needs to be restored to meet the restoration targets for each habitat type.

Assessment of financial needs

To ensure the implementation of this Regulation, adequate private and public investments for nature restoration measures are essential. Therefore, the Commission should, by 12 months from its entry into force and in consultation with Member States, present a report with an analysis identifying any gaps in implementing this Regulation. That report should be accompanied, where appropriate, by proposals for adequate measures, including financial measures to address the gaps identified, such as the establishment of dedicated funding .

Review

The Commission should evaluate this Regulation by 31 December 2030 and every two years thereafter to assess the impact of this Regulation, in particular on the agricultural sector and the supply of safe and secure food, as well as the socio-economic impacts of this Regulation, especially in rural areas.

T9-0277/2023

Debate in Parliament

The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (rapporteur: César LUENA (S&D, ES)) recommended that the European Parliament reject the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on nature restoration.

The committee rejected the proposal for a law on nature restoration as amended. The final vote was 44 to 44 against, with 0 abstentions, falling short of a majority in favour.

As a reminder, the proposal aims, as part of the Green Deal, to contribute to the long-term restoration of damaged nature in the EU's terrestrial and maritime areas, and to achieve the EU's climate and biodiversity objectives.

A9-0220/2023

COM(2022)0304

PE738.472

PE740.652

CDR4206/2022

PE738.769

PE740.821

PE740.822

PE740.823

PE740.824

PE740.825

PE740.826

PE740.827

CES5504/2021

COM(2022)0304

PE737.282

COM(2022)0304

COM(2022)0304

COM(2022)0304

EUR-Lex
SEC(2022)0256

SWD(2022)0167

EUR-Lex
SWD(2022)0168

PURPOSE: to lay down rules at EU level on the restoration of ecosystems to ensure the recovery to biodiverse and resilient nature across the EU.

PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND: despite EU and international efforts, biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystems continue at an alarming rate , harming people, the economy and the climate. The EU has so far failed to halt the loss of biodiversity. It did not meet the voluntary target to restore at least 15% of degraded ecosystems by 2020.

The 2022 IPCC report in particular highlighted that the world and Europe have a brief, rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future, as the rise in weather and climate extremes has led to some irreversible impacts as natural and human systems are pushed beyond their ability to adapt. It calls for the implementation of urgent actions for the restoration of degraded ecosystems, to mitigate the impacts of climate change, notably by restoring degraded wetlands and rivers, forest and agricultural ecosystems.

Recent geopolitical developments have further highlighted the need to safeguard food security and the resilience of food systems.

More decisive action is therefore needed to achieve the EU's climate and biodiversity objectives for 2030 and 2050 and to ensure the resilience of food systems.

The proposal implements Europe's commitment in the Biodiversity Strategy 2030 to lead the way in reversing biodiversity loss and restoring nature. It paves the way for the restoration and preservation of a wide range of ecosystems in the EU by 2050, with measurable results by 2030 and 2040. It is the EU's key contribution to the ongoing negotiations on a post-2020 global biodiversity framework to be adopted at the Convention on Biological Diversity COP15 in Montreal from 7 to 15 December this year.

In its resolution of 9 June 2021, the European Parliament welcomed the Commission's commitment to develop a legislative proposal on nature restoration, including binding restoration targets.

CONTENT: the proposed Nature Restoration Regulation sets out a general objective to contribute to the long-term, continuous and sustained recovery of biodiverse and resilient nature across the EU’s land and sea areas through the restoration of ecosystems. This establishes a framework in which Member States will put in place restoration measures which together shall cover at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050 .

The proposed new legislation sets targets and obligations across a broad range of ecosystems at land and sea. It builds on existing legislation but covers all ecosystems rather than being limited to the Habitats Directive and Natura 2000 protected areas, aiming to put all natural and semi-natural ecosystems on the path to recovery by 2030.

More specifically, the proposal:

- sets restoration targets for terrestrial, coastal and freshwater ecosystems and for marine ecosystems (which include other marine areas in addition to those covered by the Habitats Directive);

- sets targets to ensure no net loss and development of urban green spaces in towns, cities and suburbs. There should be an increase in the total national area of urban green space in cities and in towns and suburbs of at least 3 % of the total area of cities and of towns and suburbs in 2021, by 2040, and at least 5 % by 2050;

- includes an obligation to remove obstacles on rivers so as to transform at least 25 000 km of rivers into free-flowing rivers by 2030;

- includes an obligation to reverse the decline of pollinators and achieve an upward trend in pollinator populations to satisfactory levels. This obligation will be based on a method for monitoring pollinators;

- imposes an obligation on each Member State to achieve upward trends in a series of indicators important for biodiversity in (i) agricultural ecosystems (grassland butterfly index; common bird index; organic carbon stock in cultivated mineral soils; share of agricultural land with high diversity topographical features) and (ii) forest ecosystems (overall increase in biodiversity and positive trends in forest connectivity, deadwood, share of uneven-aged forests, forest birds and organic carbon stocks);

- provides for the implementation of restoration measures, including rewetting drained peatlands used for agriculture and peat extraction sites;

- describes the requirements for Member States' national restoration plans . Restoration measures should be strategically planned so that they are as effective as possible in contributing to the recovery of nature across the EU and to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

National plans should be developed on the basis of the best and most recent scientific evidence available.

The Commission estimates that, overall, the benefits of restoring peatlands, marshes, forests, heaths and undergrowth, grasslands, rivers, lakes and alluvial habitats, and coastal wetlands can be estimated as being in the order of EUR 1 860 billion (with costs estimated in the order of EUR 154 billion). Significant benefits are also estimated for marine and urban ecosystems, forests, agroecosystems and for pollinator restoration. For example, the value of crop pollination by insects was estimated of the order of EUR 5 billion per year in the EU.

COM(2022)0304
EUR-Lex