Activities of Eleonora EVI related to 2020/2006(INL)
Plenary speeches (1)
Deforestation (debate)
Amendments (30)
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas deforestation can be in part tackled by securing the economic value of forests and by creatihang incentives for forest ownershipg our consumption and production habits; whereas, at the same time, it is crucial to maintain a balance betweenpreserve primary forests and attempt to regeneration ofe secondary forests;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas land grabbing and deforestation, caused also by the expansion of plantations with the aim of producing commodities such as palm oil, coffee, cocoa, timber, rubber etc., have a major impact on human and environmental rights, and in particular those of local and indigenous populations;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. Whereas deforestation and forest disturbance have severe impacts on wildlife habitats and lead to increased contact between wild animals, humans and domesticated animals, which increases the risk of new outbreaks of epidemics and pandemics originated in wildlife; whereas more than two-thirds of emerging infectious diseases originate in animals, of which the overwhelming majority come from wildlife;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas 300 million people around the world live in forests; whereas forests provide livelihoods globally for approximately 1.6 billion people, and represent a large proportion of the territories traditionally inhabited by indigenous people;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas forests host 80% of the Earth’s biodiversity and cover 30% of its land area; whereas forests provide vital organic infrastructure for some of the planet's densest, most fragile and most diverse ecosystems;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. SupportUrges the Commission in itsto make greater efforts to strengthen standards and certification schemes that help to identify and promote deforestation-free commodities; considers robust legislation in this regard to be necessary, providing for European products to have supply chains which do not entail the use of commodities originating from deforestation and other activities that infringe the environmental and human rights of indigenous and local populations;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 – introductory part
Paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. Stresses the need in particular of market monitoring of commodities associated with deforestation and land grabbing; calls on the Commission to enhance its efforts on these issues through Horizon Europe;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas recent investigations have revealed that some EU-based financial institutions have been the main source of financing behind the six key agribusiness companies involved in deforesting climate-critical forests in Brazil, Congo Basin and New Guinea; whereas secretive international financial flows and a failure by banks and investors to comply with due diligence requirements have been recognised as among the main factors that have hindered the development of deforestation-free supply chains and respect for human rights in that context;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. Whereas overconsumption of meat and dairy in the EU is one of the drivers of global deforestation, ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss; whereas EU citizens ate 69,3 kg of meat per capita in 20181a, even though a sustainable and healthy diet recommends a maximum of 10 to 16 kg of meat per capita; whereas a significant reduction in the consumption and production of meat and dairy is essential to halt deforestation and biodiversity loss and stop climate change; _________________ 1a https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/fo od-farming- fisheries/farming/documents/medium- term-outlook-2018-report_en.pdf
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. Whereas the amount of harvested forest in the EU has doubled since 2015, posing serious challenges to biodiversity conservation, soil erosion and water regulation, including flood prevention, and a severe a threat to the ability of the EU to use these ecosystems as carbon sinks1b; _________________ 1b https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586- 020-2438-y
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines that approximately 80 % of global deforestation is caused by the expansion of land used for agriculture; stresses in this context that the Commission Communication on Stepping up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World’s Forests of July 2019 recognises that Union demand for products such as palm oil, meat, soy, cocoa, maize, timber, rubber, including in the form of processed products or services, is a large driver ofcontributes to a significant increase in deforestation, ecosystem destruction and human rights violations across the globe; emphasises in this regard that EU consumption represents 10% of the global share of deforestation embodied in the total final consumption of commodities driving deforestation;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Highlights the importance of ensuring adequate protection for whistle- blowers and environmental defenders;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. WBelcomes business’ growing ieves that business’ awareness of the problem of global deforestation, the need for corporate action and corresponding commitment should be significantly improved; believes that much more forceful legal action is needed to ensure that business’ activities do not lead to deforestation, ecosystem destruction and human rights violations, in particular through the adoption of robust and effective legally binding obligations; emphasises, however, that companies’ voluntary anti-deforestation commitments often only cover parts of their supply chains and were, as of yet, not sufficient to halt global deforestation;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Notes that the loss of primary forests cannot be compensated by a new forest-based approach; believes that the proposed EU legal framework should include effective measures and incentives aimed at preserving the unique and irreplaceable natural systems represented by primary forests;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that third-party certification schemes have played an important role in bringingbrought together business and civil society in order to develop a common understanding of the problem of deforestation, but have not been sufficient to guarantee effective and concrete forms of protection for forests and ecosystems; observes, however, that voluntary third-party certification schemes alone, to date, are not effective in halting and reversing global deforestation; notes that voluntary third-party certification can be an auxiliary tool to assess and mitigate deforestation risks when designed and implemented well with regard to the sustainability criteria it is based on, the robustness of the certification and accreditation process, independent monitoring, possibilities to monitor the supply chain, requirements to protect primary forests and promote sustainable forest management;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses that, in various instances, some of the world’s leading timber certification organizations have failed to detect unsustainable and illegal logging; recognises that their fee structure creates an inherent conflict of interest when most of their financing comes from corporations and foresters;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Recalls that a number of recent investigations have uncovered elaborate schemes of "cattle laundering" put in place by meat companies, for which cows raised on illegally deforested land or on embargoed farms are moved to legal ones immediately before being sent to the company’s slaughterhouses in order to circumvent existing laws and certification requirements;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the intention of the Commission to tackle global deforestation but asks for a more ambitious policy approach; calls on the Commission to present a proposal for an EU legal framework based on robust, legally binding obligations, tied to mandatory due diligence, reporting, disclosure and third- party participation requirements, as well as liability andthat also includes an approach covering a larger number of commodities, as well as an appropriate implementation system, which includes liability and effective and dissuasive penalties in cases of breaches of obligations for all companies placing for the first time on the Union market commodities with the highest forest and ecosystem risks and products derived from these commodities, andcommodities on the Union market. This must guarantee that all commodities and products placed on the Union market can be traced to their source, and that these commodities and products do not cause adverse environmental and social impacts such as deforestation, forest degradation, and the conversion or degradation of natural ecosystems or human rights violations; also believes that it is essential for the proposed EU legal framework to guarantee the removal of all barriers that hinder swift and effective access to justice and remedy for victims of breaches of these obligations; traceability obligations should be placed on traders on the Union market, to ensure sustainable and deforestation-free value chains, as laid down in the Annex to this resolution; emphasises that the same legal framework should apply to Union-based financial institutions providing money to companies that harvest, extract, produce or process forest and ecosystem-risk commodities and derived productim to improve the regulations applicable to Union-based financial institutions and operators so as to prevent any form of support and assistance to companies that harvest, extract, produce or process commodities linked to deforestation, forest degradation, and the conversion or degradation of natural ecosystems and to human rights violations;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Emphasises that the proposal for an EU legal framework should include a ban on financing of intensive livestock farms and monoculture systems, in order to adequately address deforestation and forest and ecosystem degradation; believes that an immediate and radical change in production methods and food consumption patterns is of the utmost importance; believes that it is therefore necessary to introduce effective measures aimed at increasing support for agro- ecological practices and reducing food waste throughout the supply chain; stresses the need to introduce legally binding targets for reducing the production and consumption of products of animal origin; notes the importance of planning targeted awareness-raising actions for consumers in order to increase their understanding of the impact of consumption patterns on forests, biodiversity and the climate, providing support and encouraging food choices centred around plant-based products;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Points out that, forest and ecosystem-risk commodities covered by this EU legal framework should be determined on the basis of objective the purpose of including commodities and their derived products within the scope of this EU legal framework, independent, objective and science-based assessments should be required, as well as public consultations of citizens and science-based considerations that such commodities pose high risks for thevil society organisations, including human rights organisations. The objective would be to reinforce the preliminary analysis and ultimately adopt legislative provisions designed to eliminate the risks of destruction and degradation of forests and high-carbon stock and biodiversity-rich ecosystems, as well as forthe risks relating to the rights of indigenous people and human rights in general;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the Commission to guarantee that the proposed EU legal framework will include a provision requiring that all newly adopted business agreements contain binding requirements for the protection of the environment intended to provide full protection for forests and other ecosystems, among other things; also calls for the inclusion of effective implementation and enforcement mechanisms able to prevent any action that could lead to deforestation and the degradation of forests;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the Commission to seize the opportunity of the forthcoming revision of the EU Non-financial Reporting Directive (2013/34/EU) to strengthens its provisions and broaden its scope in order to significantly improve companies and financial institutions' reporting in relation to environmental protection;
Amendment 208 #
9b. Believes that the proposed EU legal framework should include a ban on concluding free trade agreements that have adverse effects on forests, other natural ecosystems and human rights, including the rights of indigenous people and local communities;
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Requests that the Commission include binding obligations in the proposed EU legal framework for the protection of forests, natural ecosystems and human rights to be included in existing business agreements that do not yet contain such provisions. This should involve a detailed analysis of the direct and indirect impact of such agreements on deforestation, environmental degradation, the conversion and degradation of other ecosystems and human rights violations, so that appropriate measures can be adopted and thus enable the timely elimination of all the damaging effects identified;
Amendment 317 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – point 2 – paragraph 1
Annex I – point 2 – paragraph 1
The proposal should apply to all economic operators, irrespective of their legal form, size or complexity of their value chains, i.e. any natural or legal person (excluding non-commercial consumers) that places commodities that are covered by the proposal and their derived products on the Union internal market for the first time. This should apply to both Union and non- Union-based operators. Operators that are not based in the Union should mandate an authorised representative to perform the tasks (in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/10201 of the European Parliament and of the Council). _________________ 1Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on market surveillance and compliance of products and amending Directive 2004/42/EC and Regulations (EC) No 765/2008 and (EU) No 305/2011 (OJ L 169, 25.6.2019, p. 1).
Amendment 320 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – point 2 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Annex I – point 2 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
All economic operators should be entitled to lawfully place FERCs and FERC-commodities and derived products on the Union market only when they are able to demonstrate that, within their own activities and all types of business relationships that they have with business partners and entities along their entire value chain (i.e. suppliers, franchisees, licensees, joint ventures, investors, clients, contractors, customers, consultants, financial, legal and other advisers) that, at the very most, there is a negligible risk level,, there is no risk that the goods placed on the Union market:
Amendment 354 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – point 2 – paragraph 4
Annex I – point 2 – paragraph 4
The proposal should cover all commodities that are most frequently associated with deforestation, natural forest degradation, and natural ecosystem conversion and degradation. These commodities should be listed in an annex to the proposal and comprise at least palm oil, soy, meat, leather, cocoa, coffee, rubber, and maize and all intermediate or final products that are derived from these commodities, and products that contain these commodities. In the event that the derived products contain input from more than one commodity covered by the proposal, due diligence should be performed with respect to each of these commodities. Commodities covered by Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council2 (‘the EU Timber Regulation’) should be integrated into the scope of the proposal within three years from the date of entry into force of the proposal. _________________ 2Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2010 laying down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the market Text with EEA relevance (OJ L 295, 12.11.2010, p. 23).
Amendment 419 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – point 3 – point 3.3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
Annex I – point 3 – point 3.3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
Deforestation means the partial or total loss of natural forest as a result of (i) conversion to agriculture or other non- forest land use; ii) conversion to plantation forest; iii) severe and sustained degradation.
Amendment 571 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – point 5 – point 5.1 – paragraph 1 – point b
Annex I – point 5 – point 5.1 – paragraph 1 – point b
b. Designating competent national investigating and enforcement authorities (‘competent authorities’). The competent authorities should monitor that economic operators effectively fulfil the obligations laid down in the proposal. For that purpose, the competent authorities should carry out official checks, in accordance with a plan as appropriate, which may include checks on the premises of economic operators and field audits, and should be able to require economic operators to take remedial actions where necessary. The competent authorities should endeavour to carry out checks when in possession ofbe vested with the necessary power to obtain all relevant information, including substantiated concerns from third parties. , so that regular, exhaustive checks can be carried out;