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Press Release
IWT welcomes government support for Nature Restoration Law and calls on other states to step up for nature.
14/6/2023
The Nature Restoration Law is officially on the agenda for debate and a potential vote in the upcoming EU Environment Council meeting on the 17th June.
This is the final meeting of the EU Environment Council under Belgium’s presidency, after which Hungary will take on the role. The Irish government is showing strong support for the law and Minister Malcom Noonan has confirmed that he will attend the meeting on Monday along with Minister Ryan. The Irish Wildlife Trust has welcomed the Irish government’s support for the Nature Restoration Law and calls on other states to step up for nature. The Irish Wildlife Trust and a coalition of European NGOs are urging opposing Member States to back this vital law now and help save nature in Europe.
Grace Carr, IWT Marine Advocacy Officer stated, ‘The NRL was the EU’s chance to show real action behind their promises to protect nature which have been made at a global level. This law could help restore our natural ecosystems, help fight against the ever increasing impacts of climate change, and offer up new funding mechanisms for farmers and fishing communities to engage with environmental friendly practices. If this law is not passed on Monday, we will have missed out on a huge opportunity for nature and people.’
How did we get here?
The Nature Restoration Law (NRL) passed through the European Parliament in February of this year after it had already received approval from the EU Council. In March a final ‘rubber stamp’ from the Council should have taken place but due to political games being played, this did not happen. At the final moment Hungary withdrew its support for the law meaning it no longer had a qualified majority of Member States supporting it. Currently Sweden, Poland, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Hungary and Austria are abstaining or opposing the law despite huge public support from citizens, scientists, businesses and Environment Ministers. A qualified majority occurs whenever at least 55% of Member States vote in favour and at least 65% of the total EU population by Member State supports the proposal. At the moment the NRL has just under the 65% threshold needed and doesn’t fulfil the second criteria.
Overriding Public Support
Ireland and Germany, along with 9 other Environment Ministers, penned a letter to the unsupportive Member States urging them to rethink their position. At the same time, an independent poll was released which shows that 75% of citizens from Finland, Hungary, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands and Sweden want to see the Nature Restoration Law supported. Currently their Governments are clearly going against this and are at odds with the public opinion.
The Council took part in the trilogue negotiations for this law and voted to approve the final text. The IWT urges Member States to stick with their original positions and not allow underhanded political games to overthrow a law which is vital for the future of EU ecosystems.
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Media Contact: Grace Carr, grace@iwt.ie,