The EP Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) finishes voting on a draft regulation to introduce legally binding EU targets to restore Europe's damaged ecosystems - forests and agricultural land to urban areas, rivers and marine habitats - by 2050. No majority in ENVI Committee is secured for the law as amended (44 votes in favor and 44 votes against). The Committee will hence table to plenary the proposal to reject the Commission’s proposal. Extracts from the vote.

Brussels

statement

vote

Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

CANFIN, Pascal (Renew, FR)

LUENA, César (S&D, ES)

European Green Deal (T)

Delivery EE2024 (T)

nature restoration law (T)

Nature Restoration Law: extracts from the vote - ENVI Committee

Atmosphere shots of the ENVI Committee, 7 shots

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), C&#233;sar LUENA (S&amp;D, ES), Rapporteur, I want to remind why this law is in the European Green Deal. Well, this is because 81% of our natural habitats are in bad shape. And this is why we need to have a law for the restoration of nature, because there are a million species that are endangered.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), C&eacute;sar LUENA (S&amp;D, ES), Rapporteur, On this law, so many lies have been said. And this is why just a couple of moments I'd like to just recall the truth before the final vote comes up. In the face of so many lies with this law, we're ensuring food security and the undeniable improvement of nature for the benefit of farmers, livestock raisers and fishermen. This is the truth. This law will benefit businesses and the economy because healthy ecosystems are synonymous with wealth and resources and we can be more resilient, face climate change and avoid the ever increasing effects of climate change.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), C&eacute;sar LUENA (S&amp;D, ES), Rapporteur, We are going to reach out to all groups. I would like to extend a hand to everybody, and in particularly to the EPP as I have from the beginning of the negotiations, come back to the European Green Deal. Come to the scientific and social concensus. I know that there are members of this committee who are in denial. I know, it's unfortunate, but I will be there throughout the negotiation. And finally, I have a message for NGOs, collectives, youth movements that support this law. Thank you. Thank you for the bottom of my heart for your work. We're very well aware of the responsibility that current legislators have towards the future. And therefore, I would ask you to work with the same enthusiasm as ever. So thank you and let's go to the vote.

Pascal CANFIN (Renew, FR), Chair of ENVI, opening the final vote and result of the vote: 44 in favour, 44 against, 0 abstentions, the it is rejected.

SOUNDBITE (French), Pascal CANFIN (Renew, FR), Chair of ENVI, If the proposal for a legally binding act, as amended or otherwise, did not secure a majority of the votes in the committee, which is exactly what happened, then the committee shall propose to the Parliament in the plenary that the proposal shall be rejected. So that's what we will do as the starting point for the plenary in July.