Belgium (Brussels Morning) – Belgian PM accused of lobbying against EU’s Nature Restoration Law, jeopardizing its approval; fate uncertain as key vote approaches.
The Nature Restoration Law, a milestone text of the EU Green Deal, is once again in danger of being derailed. This time, numerous sources have blamed Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo for lobbying other Member States in an endeavour to intercept the bill’s approval. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has denied these allegations. “We exerted no pressure at any time. In any case, it wouldn’t work as each country decides its stance,” he said in response to a demand by Écolo MP Samuel Cogolati during a parliamentary assembly.
The Nature Restoration Law (NRL) was supported by the EU Parliament in February and is due to be approved by the European Council next week. This final phase is normally a formality but De Croo’s supposed lobbying throws the bill’s entire fortune into doubt. Without Belgian support, the text fails to secure approval from at least 65% of Member States, which is the needed amount for it to pass through.
Last May, De Croo had asked for a “pause” in the environmental legislation in inquiry to protect industrial interests. Environmental stakeholders condemn his continued tries to prioritise the economy at the cost of other crucial areas. “We must evaluate the health of our environment in conjunction with the health of our economy,” Adeline Rochet of the Corporate Leader Group Europe within the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership told Media. “A well-designed, nature-favourable policy creates new economic prospects, cuts emissions, enhances strength towards climate disasters, and improves global health.”
De Croo’s endeavours to influence other Member States are noteworthy because of Belgium’s current role as President of the Council of the EU, where it is believed to act as an honest broker between decision-makers.
“If this is true, it is unusual,” Groen chairman Jeremie Vaneeckhout said. “A Prime Minister of a country that now heads an important EU institution is lobbying against EU legislation. He is sabotaging his credibility as a politician by manipulating his position in this way.”
The PM reportedly “actively lobbied” several embassies, verified to De Standaard by several embassies of the paper. However, De Croo announced on Tuesday that “our country is continually conferred on all matters. Everyone wants to understand our stance. It was the same for this case. But we never involved any pressure.”
The NRL has come to its current condition after months of bitter debate between left and right-wing parties in the EU Parliament. After much watering down, the text agreed in February legislates that EU countries must reform at least 20% of habitat areas in poor shape by 2030, 60% by 2040, and 90% by 2050.
Before this, the European People’s Party (EPP) directed what critics refer to as a rival campaign distinguished by disinformation and scaremongering. Despite completing a version far from what was originally expected, environmental groups voiced satisfaction at the bill’s approval in February.
However, the NRL’s destiny again hangs in the balance with this latest consequence. Ahead of the Council vote next week, Finland, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland and Sweden are not in favour of the text, Belgium and Austria plan to refrain, and 2o countries are for it. De Croo’s movements have reportedly targeted Germany, Hungary and Romania. If any of these were to buckle, the bill would fail the 65% support it needs to enter into force. De Croo himself does not acknowledge that the bill has enough support to pass through.
