Controversial EU Nature Restoration Law Passed In European Parliament

Wednesday, 12 July 2023 at 11:56

By Kamron Clarke @kamron_clarke

It was passed by MEPs with a margin of 36.

The Nature Restoration Law has been approved by the European Parliament during a vote in Strasbourg.

MEPs were asked if they wanted to reject it - that motion was defeated by 12 votes.

The proposals have caused bitter rows among reps - with some accusing others of "fake news" and fear-mongering over it.

A poll in favour of the law passed by a margin of 36 votes.

The proposal aims to restore Europe's natural habitats - about 80 percent of which are judged to be in poor health.

Ireland South MEP Sean Kelly is in favour of having the law in place:

A Green Party MEP says today's votes on the Nature Restoration Law were unlike anything she has ever seen.

Grace O'Sullivan has described the adoption of the legislation by the Parliament as a "sigh of relief."

It's not finished yet - it'll go into further negotiations with the European Council and the Commission in the coming weeks.

But Ireland South MEP Grace O'Sullivan says the really critical vote today was very close:

Some Irish MEPs could face consequences for how they voted on the Nature Restoration Law today.

The proposals were adopted by parliament earlier, in a ballot that passed by a tiny margin.

That's despite opposition from the EPP Group, which has five Irish members from Fine Gael.

MEP Grace O'Sullivan says all five defied the group position to keep the proposals alive:

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