Worldwide, forests are being lost at an alarming rate: the equivalent of 800 football fields per hour. As deforestation is a critical contributor to climate change and a leading cause of biodiversity loss, it is becoming increasingly clear that a sustainable future cannot be achieved without tackling deforestation, and we also need to take measures to protect and sustainably manage forests. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 420 million hectares of forest — an area larger than the EU — were lost to deforestation between 1990 and 2020. EU consumption is estimated to be responsible for around 10 % of global deforestation.

Towards deforestation-free commodities and products in the EU – English

As co-legislator, Parliament has long been supportive of EU biodiversity protection and climate change policies.

The EU has played an important international role in seeking solutions to biodiversity loss, deforestation and climate change. The 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change notes the importance of ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems and the protection of biodiversity. As part of the European Green Deal, the Commission has proposed a new biodiversity strategy that aims to put Europe’s biodiversity on the path to recovery by 2030, for the benefit of people, the climate and the planet.

Biodiversity Strategy 2030

Worldwide, forests are being lost at the alarming rate of 800 football fields per hour. With deforestation being a critical contributor to climate change and a leading cause of biodiversity loss, it is becoming increasingly clear that a sustainable future cannot be achieved without tackling deforestation and taking measures to protect- and sustainably manage forests.&nbsp; The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)&nbsp;estimates&nbsp;that 420 million hectares of forest — an area larger than the EU — were lost to deforestation between 1990 and 2020. It is estimated that&nbsp;EU consumption represents around 10% of global deforestation.

&nbsp;In October 2020, Parliament made use of its&nbsp;prerogative in the Treaty&nbsp;to ask the Commission to&nbsp;come forward with legislation to halt EU-driven global deforestation.

MEPs have already called for strengthening the overall climate benefits from forests and the forest-based value chain, namely CO2 absorption and carbon storage in wood-based products. Parliament also emphasises the need to increase funding for research into the substitution of fossil fuels and fossil-fuel materials. Forests and the entire forest-based value chain are fundamental to further develop of the circular bio-economy, which delivers important climate change mitigation and adaptation services.Parliament wants binding targets to protect and restore forest ecosystems, especially primary forests (those that have not been been affected by people's actions in recent times).

Forest protection

In June 2023 Parliament adopted its position for negotiations with member states on rules to integrate human rights and environmental impact into companies’ governance. Companies will be required to identify, and where necessary prevent, end or mitigate the negative impact of their activities on human rights and the environment such as on child labour, slavery, labour exploitation, pollution, environmental degradation and biodiversity loss.

They will also have to monitor and assess the impact of their value-chain partners including not only suppliers but also sale, distribution, transport, storage, waste-management and other areas.

The European Parliament has consistently called for more corporate accountability and mandatory due diligence legislation. The European Commission proposal was introduced on 23 February 2022. It complements other existing and upcoming legislative acts, such as the deforestation regulation, conflict minerals regulation and draft regulation prohibiting products made with forced labour.

Corporate Responsibility

Press conference by Christophe HANSEN, rapporteur on the new regulation to stop EU-driven global deforestation

EP Plenary session - Deforestation Regulation

Statements by the President

Approval of the minutes of the previous sittings

Composition of Parliament

Request for waiver of immunity: see Minutes

Composition of political groups

Composition of committees and delegations

Interpretation of the Rules of Procedure(action taken)

Negotiations ahead of Parliament's first reading (Rule 71) (action taken)

Negotiations ahead of Parliament’s first reading (Rule 71)

Signing of acts adopted in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (Rule 79)

Order of business

Deforestation Regulation (debate)

Revision of the EU Emissions Trading System - Monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transport - Carbon border adjustment mechanism - Social Climate Fund - Revision of the EU Emissions Trading System for aviation (debate)

Institutional relations between the EU and the Council of Europe (short presentation)

Sustainable carbon cycles (short presentation)

eGovernment accelerating digital public services that support the functioning of the single market (short presentation)

The implementation of civilian CSDP and other EU civilian security assistance (short presentation)

One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Agenda of the next sitting

Approval of the minutes of the sitting

Closure of the sitting

Plenary session

VodDebate: Machinery products

VodDebate: Making available on the Union market as well as export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation and repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2010

VodDebate: Working group on the implementation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA)* Reporting back to committee by Andreas Schwab (PPE), Chair of the Working group

VodDebate: Implementation report on the Agreement on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU

VodDebate: Transparency and targeting of political advertising

VodDebate: A standardisation strategy for the Single Market

VodDebate: Harmonised rules on fair access to and use of data (Data Act)

VodDebate: IMCO delegation to Seoul, South Korea* Reporting back to committee

Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection

IMCO

Press conference by Christophe HANSEN, rapporteur on Deforestation regulation

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes

Verification of credentials

Composition of political groups: see Minutes

Corrigendum (Rule 241)

Signing of acts adopted in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (Rule 79): see Minutes

New EU Forest Strategy for 2030 – Sustainable Forest Management in Europe (debate)

Surveillance and predator spyware systems in Greece (debate)

Energy efficiency (recast) (debate)

Conservation and enforcement measures applicable in the Regulatory Area of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) - Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Area: conservation and management measures (debate)

The impact of COVID-19 closures of educational, cultural, youth and sports activities on children and young people in the EU (short presentation)

Interim report on the 2021 proposal for a revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (short presentation)

Agenda for next sitting: see Minutes

Negotiations ahead of Parliament&#39;s first reading (Rule 71) (action taken): see Minutes

First voting session

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 15 and 16 October 2020, in particular the negotiations of the future relations with the UK (debate)

Economic policies of the euro area 2020 - Employment and social policies of the euro area 2020

Resumption of the sitting

Announcement of voting results: see Minutes

Second voting session

EU measures to mitigate social and economic impact of Covid-19 (debate)

Announcements by the President

Deforestation (debate)

Third voting session

Agenda of the next sitting 

Closure of the sitting 

Plenary Session

Opening of the sitting

Land grabbing and deforestation in the Amazonas

Land grabbing and deforestation in the Amazonas (debate)

Corrections to votes and voting intentions: see Minutes

Dates of forthcoming sittings

Adjournment of the session

Palm oil and deforestation of rainforests (debate)

Tackling illegal logging, deforestation and forest degradation (debate)

Addressing the challenges of deforestation and forest degradation to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss - Timber and timber products (debate)

Trilogue on the regulation on deforestation-free products.

Press conference - Deforestation

EP Plenary session  - Deforestation Regulation

ENVI Committee - Exchange of views with Commissioner Virginijus SINKEVICIUS on the legislative proposal to minimise the risk of deforestation and forest degradation associated with products placed on the Union market

EP plenary session - Deforestation

Plenary session week 14 2017 in Strasbourg- Palm oil and deforestation of rainforestsReport: Konecna

Lumberjack at work with a chainsaw - Tree felling

Workers cutting trees behind the Palace of Europe, Strasbourg, October 1978.

Workers cutting and burning bushes and trees

October 1978 - Trees felled behind the Batiment Tour Alcide de Gasperi for building the new hemicycle in Luxembourg

T. BOEKHOUT VAN SOLINGE, Bart STAES, Satu HASSI

The role of Europe in fighting deforestation

Paul STAES, Kenneth D COLLINS, Sylvie LE ROUX, Jean Pierre RAFFIN, Janey O Neil BUCHAN, Anthony WILSON

Demonstration against corruption and human rights violations linked with deforestation practices in the Sarawak state in Borneo

Four COD LEX texts, are scheduled to be signed on Wednesday 31 May 2023 by President Metsola and Mr Peter Kullgren, Minister for Rural Affairs, on behalf of the Swedish Presidency of the Council : "Markets in Crypto-assets (MiCA); "Fund Transfer Regulation (FTR)"; "Deforestation Regulation"; "Autonomous trade measures applicable to Ukrainian products"

Lex Signing ceremony: signature of Four COD LEX texts by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and by Peter KULLGREN, Minister for Rural Affairs, on behalf of the Swedish Presidency of the Council

Press conference by Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU), rapporteur on the new regulation to stop EU-driven global deforestation. The new law obliges companies to ensure products sold in the EU do not come from deforested land anywhere in the world.The new regulation, already agreed with EU member states, helps fight climate change and biodiversity loss by preventing deforestation related to EU consumption of products from cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm-oil, soya, wood, rubber, charcoal and printed paper. Before such products can be placed on the EU market, companies must verify and issue a so-called “due diligence” statement that the products have not led to deforestation and forest degradation anywhere in the world. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU), rapporteur on the new regulation to stop EU-driven global deforestation

MEPs vote on the following subjects: Amendments to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure concerning question time, the central rostrum, the blue-card procedure, the explanations of votes, the transparency register and the Ombudsman; Protocol Amending the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization; Deforestation regulation; Methods and procedure for making available own resources based on the Emissions Trading System, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and reallocated profits and on the measures to meet cash requirements; Combating discrimination in the EU - the long-awaited horizontal anti-discrimination directive - Motions for resolutions; Challenges facing the Republic of Moldova- Motions for resolutions; Rule of Law in Greece - Motions for resolutions; Rule of Law in Spain - Motions for resolutions; Rule of Law in Malta - Motions for resolutions

Voting session, including the vote on Deforestation regulation

MEPs debate on a new law obliging companies to ensure products sold in the EU do not come from deforested land anywhere in the world. The new regulation, already agreed with the EU member states, helps fight climate change and biodiversity loss by preventing deforestation related to EU consumption of products from cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm-oil, soya, wood, rubber, charcoal and printed paper. Closing statement by Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU), Rapporteur and by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety.

Deforestation Regulation: closing statement by Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU), Rapporteur and by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety

MEPs debate on a new law obliging companies to ensure products sold in the EU do not come from deforested land anywhere in the world.The new regulation, already agreed with EU member states, helps fight climate change and biodiversity loss by preventing deforestation related to EU consumption of products from cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm-oil, soya, wood, rubber, charcoal and printed paper. Before such products can be placed on the EU market, companies must verify and issue a so-called “due diligence” statement that the products have not led to deforestation and forest degradation anywhere in the world. Extracts from the debate and statement by Christophe HANSEL (EPP, LU), Rapporteur.

Deforestation regulation: statement by Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU), Rapporteur, extracts from the debate

MEPs debate on a new law obliging companies to ensure products sold in the EU do not come from deforested land anywhere in the world. The new regulation, already agreed with the EU member states, helps fight climate change and biodiversity loss by preventing deforestation related to EU consumption of products from cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm-oil, soya, wood, rubber, charcoal and printed paper.

Deforestation Regulation: MEPs debate

MEPs debate on a new law obliging companies to ensure products sold in the EU do not come from deforested land anywhere in the world. The new regulation, already agreed with the EU member states, helps fight climate change and biodiversity loss by preventing deforestation related to EU consumption of products from cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm-oil, soya, wood, rubber, charcoal and printed paper. Opening statements by Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU), Rapporteur, Karin KARLSBRO (Renew, SE), ITRE Committee; Anna CAVAZZINI (Greens/EFA, DE), INTA Committee, Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Hildegard BENTELE (EPP, DE), DEVE; Petri SARVAMAA (EPP, FI) AGRI Committee.

Deforestation Regulation: opening statement by Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU), Rapporteur, Karin KARLSBRO (Renew, SE), Anna CAVAZZINI (Greens/EFA, DE), Stella KYRIAKIDES, EU Commissioner for Health, Hildegard BENTELE (EPP, DE), Petri SARVAMAA (EPP, FI)

An area larger than the EU was lost to deforestation from 1990 to 2020, with EU consumption causing around 10% of losses. A new law on deforestation-free products will make obligatory for companies to issue a so-called “due diligence” statement that goods on the EU market have not led to deforestation or forest degradation anywhere in the world. The largest share of EU-driven deforestation commodities are: palm oil (33,95%), soy (32,83%), wood (8,62%), cocoa (7,54%), coffee (7,01%) and beef (5,01%. This infoclip shows footgae of a person unpacking common groceries deriving from these commodities, a child consuming chocolate spread without palm oil as well as footage of deforestaion in Brazil.

Infoclip: Common products associated with deforestation and forest degradation

MEPs, Council and Commission meet to try to reach a deal on the regulation for deforestation-free products. The new law would make it obligatory for companies to verify (so-called “due diligence”) that goods sold in the EU have not been produced on deforested land anywhere in the world. This would guarantee to consumers that the products they buy do not contribute to deforestation and reduce the EU’s contribution to climate change and biodiversity loss

Trilogue on Deforestation (regulation for deforestation-free products)

Press conference by Christophe HANSEN, (EPP,LU), rapporteur

Deforestation regulation: Press conference by Christophe HANSEN, (EPP,LU), rapporteur

The Environment Committee of the European Parliament debates with Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, about the proposed new legislation that the European Parliament called for in order to stop EU-driven global deforestation and forest degradation by obliging companies placing products on the EU market to carry out due diligence. Extracts from the exchange of views and statement by rapporteur Delara BURKHARDT (S&D,DE).

European Parliament's legislative proposal to reduce the risk of deforestation/forest degradation: extracts from exchange between ENVI Committee and Virginijus Sinkevičius Commissioner for Environment, statement by rapporteur Delara BURKHARDT (S&D,DE

Forests are essential for our health and wellbeing, and the health of the planet. They are rich in biodiversity and are hugely important in the fight against climate change. The new EU forest strategy for 2030 is one of the flagship initiatives of the European Green Deal and builds on the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030. This Infoclip illustrates heathy and green forest, nature, undergrowth, deforestation, burn wood after fire forest, wood transformation and storage

Infoclip: Forest strategy

European Parliament's legislative proposal to reduce the risk of deforestation/forest degradation: extracts from exchange of views between ENVI Committee and Virginijus Sinkevičius Commissioner for Environment, statement by rapporteur Delara BURKHARD

President Sassoli announced the winner of the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. MEPs set out proposals for future farm policy and called for measures to halt EU-driven deforestation and ensure equal access to education. They also made recommendations for future legislation on AI.

Plenary highlights: Sakharov Prize, farm policy and artificial intelligence

During the plenary session (19-23 October 2020) of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate (21/10) on a binding legislation based on traceability requirements and mandatory due diligence for companies placing products on the EU market to ensure that EU consumption does not lead to global deforestation. The final vote takes place on 22/10 and the results are: 695 votes, 377 in favor, 75 against, 243 abstensions. The report is adopted. Illustration shots of deforestation in Brazil.

Deforestation: extracts from the debate (21/10), from the vote and illustration shots

This infoclip illustrates the Green Deal and the effects of climate change in the perspective of the State of the European Union Debate 2020 (pollution, ice melting, fire forest, deforestation, floods, windmills, solar panels, electric car...).

Infoclip: Green deal - Climate change

During the EP plenary session (16- 19 April 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs vote on new rules to ensure the EU meets its overall collective pledge, under the Paris Agreement on climate change. By 2030, CO2 emitted by transport, farming, buildings and waste must be cut by 30% in the EU, and any deforestation in the EU will have to be balanced out by planting new trees, according to a set of draft rules to be approved by Parliament. The results from the vote on the LINS report are: 574 in favour, 79 against and 32 abstentions. The results from the vote on the GERBRANDY report are: 343 in favour, 172 against and 170 abstentions. Illustrative pictures: ice breakers, factories next to the river, forests, tree cutting, airplanes, boats and cars.

Greenhouse gas emissions: extracts from the votes and illustrative pictures

During the EP plenary session (16- 19 April 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on new rules to ensure the EU meets its overall collective pledge, under the Paris Agreement on climate change. By 2030, CO2 emitted by transport, farming, buildings and waste must be cut by 30% in the EU, and any deforestation in the EU will have to be balanced out by planting new trees, according to a set of draft rules to be approved by Parliament. Statements by Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, Gerben-Jan GERBRANDY (ALDE, NL), Rapporteur, and Miguel ARIAS CAÑETE, Member of the EC in charge of Climate Action and Energy. Illustrations of industry, transport, forestry and melting ice.

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