Green light from the EU to the Nature Restoration Law, but Italy votes against

The EU Energy Affairs Council, meeting in Luxembourg, adopted by qualified majority the general approach on the regulation for the restoration of ecosystems, the Nature Restoration Law. Member States are ready to negotiate with the European Parliament once MEPs have reached a common position. They voted against Italy, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland and Sweden. There were 21 countries in favor.

WWF Italy defines it as “a step forward” albeit with some reservations. “If the Nature Restoration Law managed to escape the risk of being blocked by the European Parliament’s Environment Committee last week, today Member States demonstrated to opposition parliamentary groups that there is both a will and a need to restore nature in Europe. This decision is fundamental, in the light of the commitments signed for the Global Strategy on Biodiversity and the climate objectives within the Green Deal, given that the European Union risks not being able to achieve them without this new law”.

“On this day of joy – continues the note from WWF Italy – we must however register as Italians the profound disappointment for Italy’s vote against through the Minister of the Environment Gilberto Pichetto Fratin. It is inexplicable the position of Italy which, being one of the countries with the highest biodiversity in all of Europe, from the entry into force of the Nature Restoration Law will be able to have positive effects, not only for nature and the environment, but also for the same economy. The one expressed by the government through Minister Pichetto Fratin is a political-ideological choice that contrasts with the interests of our country. We hope that the Italian MEPs, called in mid-July to vote on the law, will want to take a different position, more in line with Europe and with the history of our country”.

The new regulation, explains Lipu which participates in the #RestoreNature campaign and together with 27 other environmental associations has signed a letter to the Minister for the Environment and Energy Security in support of the law, will allow a massive intervention on the nature of the continent and in special way on threatened and suffering habitats: wetlands, rivers, prairies, agricultural environments, the sea. In other words, it will allow a restoration work that had never been planned before and which could really change the course of the history of conservation, both in Europe and worldwide.

WWF Italy explains the knots still to be resolved: “The approved text is a bit weakened compared to the original structure: it will be the task of the Spanish presidency, which will begin on 1 July 2023, to be the spokesperson for ambitious objectives for Nature Restoration Law, working on the position adopted today and avoiding further weakening in subsequent steps”.