European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will propose a way out on the enforcement deadlock on the new anti-deforestation regulation, she told colleagues at a European People’s Party (EPP) meeting this week.
Speaking to Euractiv, MEP and the EPP’s Spokesperson for Agriculture, Herbert Dorfmann, explained that such a proposal could be made in the next few days.
“The president met with the EPP group and said she would propose either a postponement or another temporary solution within days,” he stated, stressing that reopening and revising the regulation should also be considered.
“In the situation we are in, the entry into force is impossible,” Dorfmann added.
The law in question aims to ensure that products imported into the EU – such as cocoa, livestock, coffee, and soy – are not sourced from deforested land, requiring companies to provide geolocation data for farms as proof of compliance.
Von der Leyen’s comments at the EPP meeting may explain the influx of letters the Commission received on Thursday (19 September) concerning the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
The Socialists have reiterated their support for maintaining the current implementation timeline, while the Greens/EFA group sent von der Leyen a letter seen by Euractiv with similar demands on Thursday evening.
Likewise, Renew MEPs Pascal Canfin, the liberal coordinator for the Environment Committee (ENVI), and Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, his counterpart on the International Trade Committee (INTA), wrote to Green Deal Chief Maroš Šefčovič yesterday, echoing the requests above.
All three groups are calling for the immediate release of the long-delayed guidelines and FAQs to help companies finalise their preparations to implement the rules. The Commission promised to publish these documents in March 2024, along with a benchmarking system ranking countries by their deforestation risk, but neither has been released.
Speaking to Euractiv, Pascal Canfin warned that postponing the EUDR would set a dangerous precedent, opening “a Pandora’s box” that could stall other Green Deal legislation. He called such a move “devastating” for the EU’s global credibility.
Canfin also emphasised the urgency of publishing the long-awaited guidelines, which are crucial for companies to begin compliance preparations. “These guidelines have been ready for months but have been blocked by Ursula von der Leyen,” the French politician added.
Jean-Philippe Behr
