The Spanish Deputy Prime Minister urges the European Union to save the Nature Restoration Law

Today, Wednesday, the Spanish Vice President of the Government and Minister of Environmental Transition, Teresa Ribera, urged the member states of the European Union to save the Nature Restoration Law.

Teresa Ribera explained – in an interview with the media platform “Euractiv” – To reject the law, from an economic perspective; It would be tantamount to killing “our ability to invest in our prosperity,” she said, noting that rejecting it would be a “terrible mistake.”

Teresa Ribera’s statements come at a time when economic competitiveness is emerging as a major topic in discussions about the political direction of the Union. European Union for the period 2024-2029.

Ribera is known in Brussels for supervising negotiations on energy and environmental issues during the Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union in the middle The second of 2023, she is considered the political leader favored to become the next European Commissioner for Spain.

Last March, Hungary led a last-minute protest. In the Council against the proposed European law that aims to protect biological diversity.

At a meeting of environment ministers on the twenty-fifth of last March, he was martyred. Hungarian Minister of Environmental Affairs Aneko Reis called on the measures taken by Hungary to protect nature to justify the futility of a European-wide law. Teresa Ribera rejected this argument, explaining that although Hungary’s efforts were “remarkable”, common rules were still needed “to make us stronger”.

In response to a question about the extent of her willingness to renegotiate the package to ensure its adoption, the minister stressed that environment ministers and lawmakers have already agreed on the text in the European Parliament.

Ribera was more open to the idea of offering “support to those who fear transition,” recognizing that for farmers, efforts to protect climate and nature have led to “many important and intense changes in a very short period of time.”

Commenting on the small scale of climate marches compared to the run-up to the 2019 European elections, Ribera expressed concern that “society and young people are abandoning the struggle because they do not trust institutions.” She urged civil society to “fight for governments and institutions committed to the climate.”

The European Academies Scientific Advisory Council (EASAC) called on European Union governments in early April to adopt the Nature Restoration Act.

For his part, Professor Thomas Elmqvist, Associate Director for Environment at EASAC, explained that the proposed rules are important for addressing the main biodiversity and climate challenges facing Europe. They are also vitally important to the well-being and livelihoods of farmers and land managers.

EASAC cited studies claiming that farmers can reduce their environmental impact without reducing their food production. The Green Party MEP, Jutta Paulus, welcomed EASAC’s intervention and condemned the "general and organized attack against all European legislation aimed at protecting nature and the environment".

She criticized "populism" Center-right leaders in Belgium and Poland and the European Commission described it as an attempt to “distract attention from the structural deficit of agricultural policy.”

It is noteworthy that Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo did not address the Nature Restoration Law, in his speech on April 12, marking the three-month anniversary of his country assuming the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, but he promised “steadfast support” For European farmers.

More details have also been revealed regarding the extent of opposition to the law within national governments.