Von der Leyen risks losing his majority: MPs blocked the weakening of EU environmental directives

Von der Leyen risks losing his majority: MPs blocked the weakening of EU environmental directives shutterstock.com

Illia Fedun

The EU's right-wing political forces believe that excessive environmental regulation is stifling business

The European Parliament has rejected a proposal by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to weaken the Green Deal. As a result, she risks losing her parliamentary majority.

This was reported by Euractiv.

Von der Leyen and EU governments have been pressuring the European Parliament to speed up a series of measures to deregulate environmental directives, arguing that they are urgently needed to unlock business and support the economy. However, MEPs from center-left parties voted against the review of the relaxation of environmental directives.

We are talking about the law of due diligence (CSDDD), which is a key element of the EU's "green transition". It was supposed to make large companies accountable for human rights violations and environmental damage in their green supply chains.

At the same time, the European Parliament, in a secret ballot with a narrow majority, voted against adopting the CSDDD law, raising concerns in Brussels. Meanwhile, EU leaders are preparing for a summit in Brussels where, according to expectations, they will call for even further reduction of bureaucracy and simplification of regulations for businesses. 

We remind readers of EcoPolitics that in November the EU will set new emission reduction targets for 2035 and 2040 ahead of the COP30 climate summit.

Related
Deregulation in the EU: relaxation of a number of environmental regulations concerning hydrogen, forests and batteries
Deregulation in the EU: relaxation of a number of environmental regulations concerning hydrogen, forests and batteries

The European Commission has excluded a number of products from the regulations on deforestation and removable batteries

Ten EU countries are calling for the industry to be allowed to emit CO₂ for a further decade
Ten EU countries are calling for the industry to be allowed to emit CO₂ for a further decade

At the same time, there are calls to review the ETS2, which is intended to require payment for emissions caused by heating and transport

Nuclear power plant shutdowns, deadly forest fires, the deaths of over 10,000 people: the heatwave is terrorising Europe
Nuclear power plant shutdowns, deadly forest fires, the deaths of over 10,000 people: the heatwave is terrorising Europe

In Spain, fires have claimed the lives of 13 people, whilst in France, flames have engulfed the kings’ historic hunting grounds

Ukraine is simplifying logging regulations to increase timber harvests — Ministry of Economy
Ukraine is simplifying logging regulations to increase timber harvests — Ministry of Economy

The review concerns the approval of sanitary felling and the simplification of the process for issuing felling permits