Ireland leads last-ditch effort to save EU’s Nature Restoration Law

Environment ministers from 11 EU countries have made a joint appeal to save the Nature Restoration Law from the scrapheap.

A letter signed by Environment Minister Eamon Ryan and 10 of his counterparts calls on countries that withdrew support for the law to get behind it, before it is too late.

The landmark piece of legislation, aimed at restoring degraded land and sea habitats to health, received majority backing in the European Parliament, so its passing into law was expected to be a ministerial rubber-stamping exercise.

However, a last-minute U-turn by Hungary and faltering by other countries meant it was left off the relevant agenda in March, throwing its survival into doubt.

They wobbled after a backlash from farming groups that led to demonstrations in multiple countries and riots outside EU institutions in Brussels.

Opponents say the law would take land out of use and restrict farming activities, even though it states any change of farming practices would be voluntary and compensated.

With a new parliament to be voted in following European elections next month, it has one last chance to be signed into law – when a final ministerial council meeting takes place on June 17.

The letter, an initiative led by Mr Ryan and junior minister Malcolm Noonan, says the backtracking on the law undermined both nature and democracy.

“Europe is the fastest-warming continent and is facing unprecedented impacts from the intertwined nature and climate crises,” it says.

“Restoring ecosystems is essential to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, and to safeguard European food security. Our failure as EU leaders to act now would fundamentally undermine public faith in our political leadership at home and internationally.

“We must act urgently and decisively to conclude the political process. We hope you will join with us in calling on all colleagues in the Environment Council to conclude its adoption on June 17.”

The letter is co-signed by the environment ministers of Germany, France, Spain, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Slovenia, Estonia and Cyprus.

It is being sent to the ministers of the 16 other member states and to the European Commission, urging all to get back around the table and agree to pass the law.

Environmental groups across the EU are also believed to be gearing up for a last-ditch push to get backtracking countries back on board.