Stockholm (NordSIP) – A coalition of more than 40 global and national non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is raising the alarm over attempts to simplify the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
The EUDR had originally been welcomed by environmental NGOs as a potentially world leading piece of legislation that would prevent any goods linked to deforestation being imported into the EU. Although the EUDR entered into force in June 2023, it has since been weakened and its full implementation delayed following a campaign led by the European People’s Party (EPP). The latest joint statement by the WWF, Greenpeace, ClientEarth and numerous other NGOs was issued in response to further proposals made by the Ministers for Agriculture of Luxembourg and Austria at the meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 26th May 2025.
Having successfully delayed the full application of the EUDR, which would have taken place on 30 December 2024, the campaigned by the EPP submitted a range of proposed amendments, some of which are at the heart of the current controversy. The coalition of NGOs believes the introduction of extensive exemptions for ‘no-risk’ countries effectively creates an EU-wide loophole as all members states would qualify. Companies in ‘no-risk’ countries would be able to bypass critical checks on their value chains, which the NGOs argue would effectively nullify the legislation and enable the continued destruction of forest habitats in the EU and berond.
The original EUDR was considered well drafted and a core component of the EU’s Green Deal environmental efforts as championed by European Commission President and EPP member Ursula von der Leyen. As made clear in the NGO statement, many companies have been working on ensuring EUDR compliance in their value chains in the run-up to its full application. These steps would be greatly undermined under the latest proposals, and any competitive advantage lost.
Reacting to the outcome of the May 2025 Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting Anke Schulmeister-Oldenhove, Forests Policy Manager at WWF European Policy Office said: “This is a shameful moment for the EPP, and a betrayal of its commitments to European citizens, forward-looking businesses, the world’s forests, and our climate. Just last year, the EPP overwhelmingly supported the EUDR – led by a rapporteur from their own ranks. Today, they aligned with extreme right-wing factions, putting political posturing over climate action, opening the gates for deregulation whilst casting aside pleas of European citizens and responsible companies to protect our forests.”
The 18 June declaration on the EUDR by the NGO coalition comes at a time when the EU’s policy making and legislative processes are being called into question. The European Ombudsman’s office is currently leading two inquiries into the Commission’s ongoing ‘Omnibus’ initiative to simplify legislation and cut corporate red tape.
Image courtesy of Anke Sundermeier on Pixabay
Stockholm (NordSIP) – A coalition of more than 40 global and national non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is raising the alarm over attempts to simplify the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
The EUDR had originally been welcomed by environmental NGOs as a potentially world leading piece of legislation that would prevent any goods linked to deforestation being imported into the EU. Although the EUDR entered into force in June 2023, it has since been weakened and its full implementation delayed following a campaign led by the European People’s Party (EPP). The latest joint statement by the WWF, Greenpeace, ClientEarth and numerous other NGOs was issued in response to further proposals made by the Ministers for Agriculture of Luxembourg and Austria at the meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 26th May 2025.
Having successfully delayed the full application of the EUDR, which would have taken place on 30 December 2024, the campaigned by the EPP submitted a range of proposed amendments, some of which are at the heart of the current controversy. The coalition of NGOs believes the introduction of extensive exemptions for ‘no-risk’ countries effectively creates an EU-wide loophole as all members states would qualify. Companies in ‘no-risk’ countries would be able to bypass critical checks on their value chains, which the NGOs argue would effectively nullify the legislation and enable the continued destruction of forest habitats in the EU and berond.
The original EUDR was considered well drafted and a core component of the EU’s Green Deal environmental efforts as championed by European Commission President and EPP member Ursula von der Leyen. As made clear in the NGO statement, many companies have been working on ensuring EUDR compliance in their value chains in the run-up to its full application. These steps would be greatly undermined under the latest proposals, and any competitive advantage lost.
Reacting to the outcome of the May 2025 Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting Anke Schulmeister-Oldenhove, Forests Policy Manager at WWF European Policy Office said: “This is a shameful moment for the EPP, and a betrayal of its commitments to European citizens, forward-looking businesses, the world’s forests, and our climate. Just last year, the EPP overwhelmingly supported the EUDR – led by a rapporteur from their own ranks. Today, they aligned with extreme right-wing factions, putting political posturing over climate action, opening the gates for deregulation whilst casting aside pleas of European citizens and responsible companies to protect our forests.”
The 18 June declaration on the EUDR by the NGO coalition comes at a time when the EU’s policy making and legislative processes are being called into question. The European Ombudsman’s office is currently leading two inquiries into the Commission’s ongoing ‘Omnibus’ initiative to simplify legislation and cut corporate red tape.
Image courtesy of Anke Sundermeier on Pixabay
