The European Conservatives and Reformists Group welcomes the European Parliament’s adoption of an objection to the Commission’s proposed list of deforestation risk countries.

According to ECR shadow rapporteur Anna Zalewska MEP, the list would have imposed unnecessary burdens on European foresters while failing to reflect global realities.

Speaking after the vote, Ms Zalewska stated:

“Today’s vote is a victory for common sense. The Commission’s list would have penalised European forest owners who are not part of the problem – and ignored serious deforestation risks elsewhere. We need rules that are based on facts, not political convenience.”

The objection, supported by a broad majority of 373 Members in the House, echoes many of the concerns the ECR Group has raised from the beginning: outdated data, a lack of transparency, and a rigid classification system that misrepresents the real risks on the ground.

“The ECR Group has consistently advocated for the introduction of a separate ‘negligible or no risk’ category for countries with stable or expanding forest areas – an approach now backed by a growing majority in Parliament,” Ms Zalewska said.

“If we want to protect forests globally, we need credible, up-to-date data and a transparent benchmarking system that reflects regional differences and avoids punishing our responsible forest managers,” Ms Zalewska added.

Following today’s vote, the European Commission must now withdraw and revise the implementing act. This may also affect the application date of the EUDR Regulation, currently set for 1 January 2026 – a deadline that is increasingly unrealistic. The ECR Group will continue to work for pragmatic, science-based environmental rules that support sustainability without unnecessary bureaucracy.