Bert-Jan Ruissen, ECR shadow rapporteur in the Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries, commented on the narrow adoption of the highly controversial Nature Restoration Law: “We cannot be satisfied with the result. Fortunately, the original text has been weakened by amendments and Member States have been given a little more discretion. But the text is still too rigid. Too much land is now reserved for nature restoration, at the expense of food production, housing, transport and even energy transition.”

“In some Member States, the proposal could limit economic growth and contribute to a shortage of available housing and potential food security problems,” concludes Ruissen.