‘A huge, huge, huge mistake’ Teresa Ribera warns against rejecting Nature Restoration Law

Spanish Vice-President and Ecological Transition Minister Teresa Ribera urged EU countries to save the beleaguered Nature Restoration Law, during an exclusive interview with Euractiv.

The minister sought to frame the law economically, likened a rejection of the law to “killing our own capacity to invest in our prosperity”, and called it “a huge, huge, huge mistake.”

Her remarks come as economic competitiveness emerges as a key theme in the Brussels debates on the political direction of the EU for 2024-2029.

Ribera is well-known in Brussels, having overseen energy and environment file negotiations during Spain’s EU Council presidency in the second half of 2023, and is considered the most likely candidate to be Spain’s next European commissioner.

Rejection of Hungary’s position

In March, Hungary led a last-minute revolt in the Council against Europe’s proposed law to protect biodiversity.

In a 25 March meeting of environment ministers, Hungarian Minister of State for Environmental Affairs Anikó Raisz pointed to Hungary’s nature protection activities as justification for why a European-wide law was unnecessary. 

Ribera rejected this argument, saying that while Hungary’s efforts were “fantastic”, common rules were still needed to “make us stronger.”

No renegotiation – but more farmers support possible

When asked whether she was open to renegotiating the file to ensure its passage into law, the minister emphasised that both environmental ministers and lawmakers had already agreed on the text in the European parliament. 

Ribera was more open to providing “support to those that fear the transition”, acknowledging that for farmers, climate and nature protection efforts have meant “lots of big and intense changes in a very short period of time.”

Civil society must fight for climate

Commenting on the limited scale of climate marches compared to the lead up to the 2019 EU elections, Ribera expressed her concern that ”society and the youth (are) giving up because they do not trust the institutions”.

She urged civil society “to fight for committed governments and committed institutions on climate”.

Scientists speak out in favour of nature protection

In early April EASAC – the European umbrella group of national science academies –  called upon EU governments to adopt the Nature Restoration Law. 

The proposed rules are “important to address the severe biodiversity and climate challenges Europe faces. It is also of vital importance for the well-being and sustenance of farmers and land managers” said EASAC’s Environment Co-Director, Professor Thomas Elmqvist.

EASAC cited studies which claim that farmers can reduce their environmental impact without lowering food yields.

Green European lawmaker Jutta Paulus weclomed EASAC’s intervention, and slammed “a general and organized attack on the entire European legislation to protect nature and environment.”

She said that the “populist actionism” of the centre-right leaders of Belgium, Poland and the European Commission was an attempt to “divert attention from the structural deficits of agricultural policy”.

No shift in Council’s postion

While supporters of the Nature Restoration Law are rallying, there are still no signs of a shift amongst national governments. 

During a 12 April speech to mark the midpoint of the Belgian presidency of the Council, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo’s speech did not mention the law, but did pledge “unwavering support” for Europe’s farmers.

More details have also emerged about the scale of opposition to the law amongst national governments.

Local media reported that prior to Hungary’s u-turn on the text, Swedish rural affairs minister Peter Kullgren wrote to environmental ministers in several countries, urging a rejection of the file.

[Edited by Alice Taylor]

Read more with Euractiv