After the vote in plenary on the Nature Restoration Law proposal, the rapporteur, César LUENA (S&D, ES), helds a press conference. The European Commission’s proposal for a Nature Restoration Law is the first continent-wide, comprehensive law of its kind. It is a key element of the EU Biodiversity Strategy, which calls for binding targets to restore degraded ecosystems, in particular those with the most potential to capture and store carbon and to prevent and reduce the impact of natural disasters. The proposal combines an overarching restoration objective for the long-term recovery of nature in the EU’s land and sea areas with binding restoration targets for specific habitats and species. These measures should cover at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030, and ultimately all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. The transcript is the result of an automated process. Please check against delivery

Strasbourg

press conference

LUENA, César (S&D, ES)

Fit for 55 (T)

nature restoration law (T)

Press conference by César LUENA (S&D, ES), rapporteur on EU's nature restoration law

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, Thank you. I'm going to share a few ideas with you. Not so many, because I want to leave enough time for you to put questions to me and for me to reply. As we've said before, we can win and we have won. And I think this is a social victory, a real social victory for scientists, for young people, for a lot of companies and businesses, for the agricultural sector.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, So I think that this is the first point which we need to make is a huge social victory. And my political group has played a pretty major role in this. The Social Democrats, more than a third of the possible votes, both in committee and in plenary.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, And, of course, you know that passing the nature restoration law has been thanks to the Social Democrats. So it's a huge social victory. It's a huge gain for social democracy. So that's great news.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, First of all, because beyond what we've heard from Sanchez, from Gomez, who's been working with us today, beyond the details that we have just approved, which are contained in the law, we've talked about this before. We talked about it yesterday. We talked about it today in the hemicycle. I'm not going to repeat that, but we had a problem with the health of our European systems.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, So what we need to do, which is compulsory, we need to be bold and we need to get this through. So this law approved means that by the end of the year we've got deadlines, we've got ecosystems which need restoring ecosystems, which have really been suffering. This is a law which is not against anybody. We've got the extreme right, the right, the European People's Party, and they have said that we have been lying.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, This is a law on behalf of nature. It's not a law against any person whatsoever. So we had the Montreal summit in Canada. China was very important and we came up with very ambitious goals there. And within Europe, it's impossible, therefore, that we can't implement the ambitious targets which we set there.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, So it's very important that Europe is in the right place. I think it's also a victory for this Parliament. It's important for this Parliament in the role which it has in European construction. It's important that Parliament is not an obstacle to law. And when it becomes an obstacle to law, as we have seen during the course of the attempts to get this nature restoration law through, it's not good.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, So what we've seen is good Parliament is supposed to make laws. It's not supposed to reject discussion and reject debate. It's supposed to discuss properly. And for European policy, it's important to. It's very good news for it. Why? Because we have managed it to win over the Conservatives, the AP, the right, etc.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, We had 336 for the vote. But we don't have very much time in Spain now, do we? Because if we say that certain people are voting in a certain way, we're going to see that happen in Spain, too. So I think this is also a very, very good message. It's a good message that we have. We should be aware of that. When you get social majority, which supports certain policies, it's important that this goes on to parliaments and institutions so that they implement those policies.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, So I think it's a message that we're putting out here that we take this seriously. It's important that we work on improving the fabric that we have here, and perhaps we have managed to correct things a little today. But of course, where we can really change things is when we go and vote.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, So of course, we've got to negotiate. And this is something which the Spanish presidency is preparing for. Pedro Sanchez is getting ready to negotiate. And I am going to say that I'm happy to discuss this with anybody who wants me to. All different political parties or politicians. This is a European pact. It's not perfect. I think it can be improved. And I think today's vote is an important step along the right road.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, I think that what we are seeing here is getting through something which was supported by Ursula von der Leyen. But we've got to go further. We are going to play an important role within the trilogues and it's important that we say that we are open to you to participate. We want everybody to play their role here.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, Just a couple of minor points that I'd like to wind up on. Yes, this is a good law. It's a good law because it is going to ensure that people and member states are confident in what they need to do. They know that they have to be consistent in certain policies. They've got certain deadlines to meet. But it is the law which gives flexibility. It gives time for people to mull over how and what to do. But it's a good law.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, It's good for farmers. It's good for fishermen. It's good for everybody. Because if you have healthy ecosystems, then the economic sectors which depend on those ecosystems are going to be healthy themselves. It's a basic law, basic rule, isn't it? And I shall open up to a round of questions. But before that, I should like to thank everybody who has worked in the Environment Committee in ENVI.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, Because this was the battle and we've moved on to the final struggle. But in ENVI and the Environmental Affairs Committee. There was a lot of hard work, there was a lot of combat. And I should like to thank those who worked with us in ENVI. Those groups who agreed. My group, the Greens, the Left, the Liberals.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, These three groups also are groups whom we should recognise here. And thank my political group. We've got Sonia, Christina, Mary, all the S&D. And of course there's Iratxe. I like to thank her too, on behalf of my group. And of course I should like to thank civil society because I think this is a social victory.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, I should like to say to young people who have really been at the forefront, who have told us where we have to go, what we have to do. So thanks to them, because sometimes we hear arguments which are tough to listen to.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, We've seen rationality win, we've seen science push through here, and it's important to realise that this is the case. And so I should also like to thank the scientists as well, because without them it would have been a lot more difficult. And it is hard because that sometimes there are arguments which are manipulated, which people find easy to break down, but the scientists have been behind us. So now I open up to questions.

Q&A, Question regarding the change in the balance of power in the EP and if these tight majorities are to be expected for other proposals. And another question about the new Spanish Goverment and if this could affect the trialogues.

Q&A, Question regarding the approved amendments in the Nature Restoration Law.

Q&A, Question about the possible future struggles with the center right on other sensitive topics.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, Regarding the controversy on this dossier. If the EPP wants, they could negotiate because I happened to start off with. So that happened until their strategy moved to the floor over tactics. Now in ENVI dossiers and pesticides, they move ahead as much as possible. But in terms of today's vote, that could be within the EPP, a point where things move on.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, But as Iratxe says, because I have a broader view, I deal with ENVI, she's the group leader, so she knows, she has a broader overview. So maybe she'll be able to answer that better. The Spanish government. I'm not expecting a change. We'll start the trialogue. So that will go well. I'm sure.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, The review vote of the Council. We've discussed that or tabled the Council position. They've done that in terms of the amendments, I need to look at that. I need to check it with them and be able to analyse. Because we had various votes. I need to check all of that, but there are a couple of things I don't like as an amendment from, as you know, Nature 2000.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, It's there, Article nine on agriculture, we agreed on, everyone made a big effort and it improved on the Commission's position. Article nine is not there anymore. So those are a couple of the many examples, lots of amendments, so a lot of work to be done. I think we'll need to restrict some of the things that have come in and include other things that aren't there, but negotiations are underway.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, So we need to taken into account what Parliament voted this morning. But there are limits. But there's room for manoeuvre. There are three players in the negotiations. Each one has their mandate. So we need to see how far we can go. Some socialist amendments got through, such as 3 billion trees by 2030, and strengthening the position to defend pollinators.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, Just a couple, amongst others, defending re-establishing marine ecosystems systems, beefing up financing the date for the review of the regulation eight years from entry into force and not 2035. So there's a mix of things. You know, we've seen how the negotiations went. We came here without a final report. So we knew we could get this through.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, But that's what Interinstitutional dialogue and negotiation is for to resolve those things. And I think that by the end of the year we can get a good law on nature.

Q&A, Question regarding the impact of the legislation on the farmers.

Q&A, Question about if pesticides have been taken into account into this law.

Q&A, Question about the consequences of today's vote for EPP and its president.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, I want to warn you that some of these very specific questions it would been better to have this press conference later. I know this is to do with in such institutional organisations. So I can tell you that the reduction of area well, that's been a big lie. That will never happen. I have to say that in the trialogues there'll be two socialists, vice presidents of the Spanish government and me representing European S&D.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, We won't allow that to happen. It's never been in the plans and there have just been some arguments from the top of the EPP, extreme right and some farmers organisations quite irresponsible. It's untrue. It's never been planned. It won't happen if someone does bring it out, will stop that happening in interinstitutional talks. So that's just to be clear there.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, The pesticides and insecticides, this has never been anything like that there. That's why I was saying we need more time to check, but there's nothing there. Now there will be a pesticide regulation that will be here. It will go on. It's a critical legislative journey, but there's nothing, that's not true.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, Yes, we'll check to see if there's anything and send you if there is anything. But just say now there's nothing. So, following this vote, it won't be banned from farmers. It's not going to make them have to reduce that area under crops. Nothing on pesticides and insecticides, no. Anti-European people, rationalists, right wingers find other things to argue about.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, If there is nothing here, you might as well stop, join the negotiations and say what your position is. The last thing. Where will Weber be? Well, if he takes a holiday, that would be good.

Q&A, Question regarding the net green areas targets and deadlines.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, So will this regulation strengthen directives Because directives refer to the subsidiarity principle and to right now we have green areas of over 100 hectares. They will be reduced by 25%. So my question is about the deadline, about these net green areas. This is what my question is about,

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, I don't understand the approach on the second one, but we can go into later. In terms of subsidiarity that is absolutely guaranteed. Member States will have to draw up a restoration plan, not a national one. They have a lot of time to do it, lots of flexibility in the trialogues, everything to do with being more flexible with the timescales and policies we will do.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, Because our approach with this law has been that Member States should feel at ease because the first nature law in 70 years needs to be successful. So that the second one will be the main one which will lead us to improving ecosystems by 2050. So once we pass this law, it will need to be reviewed in the next mandate on the other one.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, So it's important that Member States where are at ease that there's flexibility. So there's no problem on subsidiarity. Regarding the green areas, I don't understand the question. I might have a response, but I didn't understand the question. So it's hard to respond. You can submit it in writing and we can respond that way.

Q&A, Question about the NGOs comments in the law proposal. And another question about the EPP's comments about the proposal.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, Bearing in mind, as I was saying, that the vote was very close, we know that the important things will get through. There'll be things that we don't like. So we need to use persuasion in terms of politics and parlamentarism. We need to move on from people not wanting to negotiate. We're going to negotiate, we're going to text.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, There are things we don't like. I've said couple. The one, the amendments, on Nature 2000. One of the worst. Article nine to be dropped as well, it is as a bad thing. And there's more. But that is politics and that's how part of the parliamentary system are. There are political groups that have tabled amendments and votes and we need to work on that and negotiate it.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, So I hope the good amendments, I read out four or five, that came from my group, so those ones should be consolidated and I understand negotiations and those ones that I think are bad for the text because they're underm and I am a reductionist, very conservative. What I hope is that we will manage to reduce them and that the text will be better and more ambitious. So we've got a couple of things here.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, The Commission proposal, and then another one is the general approach from the Council. And then there's a mixture of the general approach of conservative amendments, plus amendments that we agreed on in ENVI, with compromises that I tabled as rapporteur. That's the mix. And so we've got those three things in the pot.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, And on that basis now, I think the question is, are you satisfied? No, but that's a good sign because that's going to need to be agreed on. We've got four groups of agrees and then we'll need more. And then with the Council and the Commission. If I'm not 100% happy, that's a good thing. I'm never going to make this.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), César LUENA (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, What we want, the S&D, is to have a nature law, that's number one. Then we'll see what works, what doesn't. And with respect for ministers, with them, and bearing in mind that this is a lawful nature, it's not against anyone. That's the set up. Those are the key messages.