Brussels should avoid reopening the EU’s anti-deforestation law, Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera warned on Monday, pushing back against Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall’s call to delay its rollout.
Speaking at a press conference with Roswall, Ribera vowed to find the best solution to address concerns over the IT platform requiring companies to upload data proving their products are not tied to deforestation.
But she stressed the need to resolve the technical issue “avoiding opening the regulation and [finding] other alternatives.”
The law, a world-first, would force companies to demonstrate that cocoa, coffee, palm oil, timber, rubber, and soybeans sold in the bloc in the bloc are not linked to forest clearance.
Responding to whether Ribera feared that the legislation could be weakened as part of Brussels’ “simplification” frenzy, she didn’t want to give in to “speculation,” but defended the EU’s green agenda.
“Good if we can get the same goals in a simple manner, but better to ensure that goals are achieved,” she added.
Ever since she became the EU green transition chief, Ribera has been out as one of the most outspoken voices in Ursula von der Leyen’s right-leaning college of commissioners.
EU set to propose new delay to anti-deforestation rules
The European Commission wants to push back the EU’s anti-deforestation law once again, considering a…
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The remarks come after the shock announcement last Tuesday, when Roswall said she was weighing a further one-year delay to the implementation of the rules, which had already been pushed back from 2024 to December this year.
The Commissioner blamed it on technical woes, arguing that the IT system was still not fit for purpose, despite a year of trials. The official proposal to delay the law has not yet been put forward formally.
Meanwhile, MEPs and diplomats were quick to link it to Washington’s influence, as well as right-wing efforts to weaken remaining legislation from the Green Deal era.
While senior Commission officials rejected accusations of political interference, Roswall told reporters that she would discuss with MEPs and the Council “the different needs when it comes to simplification,” and didn’t rule out reopening the rules.
If a delay is tabled by the Commission, the centre-right EPP already confirmed that it will push for additional changes to clinch an exemption for EU member states – as they argue that EU farmers and foresters do not contribute to global deforestation.
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