Brussels – Another one‑year postponement for all companies and further simplifications. The majority in the European Parliament — in its alternative format, made up of the right and far‑right — follows the line already approved by the member states and delivers the final blow to the EU law on imported deforestation (EUDR), adopted with difficulty in 2023 but since then the subject of a fierce clash between supporters of the Green Deal and those who have blamed it for every ill.
Leading the gradual retreat from the burdensome commitments made in the last parliamentary term is the European People’s Party, which calls the shots in the European Parliament and can also rely on a solid majority among the leaders in the EU Council. The European Parliament’s negotiating position on the revision of the regulation proposed by the European Commission was adopted today (26 November) with 402 votes in favour, 250 against, and eight abstentions. The EPP voted together with Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), Patriots for Europe (PfE), and Europe for Sovereign Nations (ESN). Socialists (S&D) and Greens inevitably broke away, while the other group of the so-called pro-European “platform” – the Renew Liberals – were divided.
The text adopted today is the result of an initiative by the EPP, which last week abandoned negotiations with the platform for a “centrist” compromise and proposed a series of changes to the text that would follow, point by point, the one approved by the EU Council last week. In vain was the appeal by the Socialists – who had called the Council’s mandate “fundamentally flawed and unacceptable” – to return to the negotiating table. As in the case of simplifying corporate due diligence directives, the EPP chose confrontation, relying on the alternative majority formed with far‑right groups.
The Populars pointed out that the vote is “in line with a balanced compromise already agreed by 24 EU countries.” A compromise that “ensures effective prevention of illegal deforestation while reducing unnecessary burdens on operators, farmers, and foresters.” In essence, in addition to the postponement (the second) of the application of the rules by one year – large operators and traders will have to comply with the obligations of the regulation from 30 December 2026, while micro and small businesses will have to comply from 30 June 2027 – MEPs called for further changes to the requirements for companies compared to the European Commission’s proposal.
The European Parliament demands that the obligation and responsibility to submit the required due diligence declaration lie exclusively with the operators who first place the product on the market. All those downstream, up to the traders, would no longer be required to submit such declarations. In addition, small and micro enterprises would only submit a one-off simplified declaration. Furthermore, Strasbourg proposes to exclude books, printed newspapers, and other products of the printing industry from the scope of the regulation. Also confirmed is the call for a review of the regulation by 30 April 2026 to assess the law’s impact and its administrative burden.
According to the Socialist Group, the position approved today in Strasbourg “undermines the core integrity of the law.” Specifically, the EUDR should prevent the entry into the single market of products resulting from the overexploitation of forest areas by imposing greater supply-chain control on companies. A tightening that affects palm oil, wood, beef, and rubber in particular, but also several associated materials, such as leather, chocolate, furniture, printed paper, and coal.
“By insisting on an early review before the Regulation even enters into force, the adopted text violates our central red line,” the S&D group explained in a note. “Given that the outcome directly threatens the enforceability of the Regulation and jeopardises the EU’s environmental leadership, the S&Ds had no choice but to vote against the weakened text,” the Socialists concluded.
With the two institutions now aligned, the European Parliament and the EU Council will open negotiations on the law’s final version. Negotiations will likely be brief, as the priority is to approve the revision by the end of 2025; otherwise, the regulation will take effect.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
