COPA and COGECA welcome yesterday’s vote in the European Parliament’s joint Committee on the Environment (ENVI) and Committee on Agriculture (AGRI), which rejected the proposed forest monitoring framework with a clear majority of 80 votes in favour and 46 against. This stalemate, if it holds in the Plenary, was foreseeable, given how disconnected from field realities the Commission’s top-down, bureaucratic proposal was.
This decision addresses the long-standing concerns of European forest owners who have consistently emphasised the risks of introducing unnecessary administrative burdens.
For over two years, our organisations have highlighted that forest monitoring should serve as a support tool, not a top-down compliance mechanism, to ensure that forests thrive while respecting the diverse realities across Europe. Today’s outcome reflects a much-needed commitment to work more closely with the ones who will implement the legislation and avoid layers of bureaucracy that could hinder sustainable forest management. The focus should be on capacity building, mutual learning and knowledge exchange with Member States and relevant EU and international institutions should bridge the gap between the most and least advanced Member States in the field of requirements for EU forest reporting.
We urge Members of the European Parliament to uphold this position during the upcoming Plenary vote, ensuring that future policies prioritise practical, science-based solutions over excessive regulation.
Fonte: Copa Cogeca
