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

SOUNDBITE (German), Delara BURKHARDT (S&amp;D, DE), Rapporteur, No one should have to go to the supermarket and decide whether they want to buy products that damage rain forest or not. But currently there are no European rules that stop these products being sold.

SOUNDBITE (German), Delara BURKHARDT (S&amp;D, DE), Rapporteur, The European Commission announced last year in its Communication on the Protection of National Forests that it would take action against it. I think globalisation could be made fairer and more sustainable if we have stronger European standards. We need to have a Green Deal which is not only within Europe but is also responsible across the world.

SOUNDBITE (Swedish), Karin KARLSBRO (RE, SE), INTA Committee, Deforestation is a global problem. It threatens the climate, it threatens species. But also threatens long-term economic growth. Illegal loggin isn't just an environment problem. It also leads to poverty and creates risks for corruption. Getting more countries to cooperate for sustainable trade in forest products is extremely important, and we have to do this together with business sector and in cooperation with civil society as well. The flagged framework aimed at sustainable forestry and discouraging illegal logging is one link in this chain. Therefore, we need to develop and strengthen this cooperation, we have to make it easier for more countries and enterprises and forestry businesses to conduct and trade in forest products in a sustainable way.

SOUNDBITE (German), Martin H&#196;USLING (Greens/EFA, DE), AGRI Committee, I believe that Europe is involved in more than ten percent of deforestation. For example, we import a great from Latin America and these imports are the reason for mass investment in large scale cattle raising. So we bare a major responsibility. We could produce meat in Europe, and that's something we should look at. Palm oil is another major issue. We have decided not to use palm oil as a renewable energy. That should have hapened earlier. Free trade agreements, commissioner: these are another thing. The Mercosur agreement, for example. We have to act differently with regards to those. One last point: we also need to protect European forests. Let me remind you that we have that problem of deforestation in Europe as well.

SOUNDBITE (French), Caroline ROOSE (Greens/EFA, FR), DEVE Committee, This week, the Parliament is voting on the draft reform of the common agricultural policy. But how can we vote for this inadequate reform when the Amazon is plagued by deforestation and the proliferation of forest fires? Let's look at things in the face. Our industrial agriculture model, which is heavily dependent on soybean imports, is largely responsible for deforestation and destruction of unique ecosystems, habitats for many animal species and land grabbing at the expense of the rights of peasants and indigenous peoples. The time of impunity must end. The ones who are guilty of 'ecocide' must be tried.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jytte GUTELAND (S&amp;D, SE), Almost every fourth person in the world today depend on forest for their daily lifehood and income. Not at least indigenous people around the world, for example, in Amazon, are heavily dependent on forests and deforestation threatens their livelihood. There are also completely flagrant and abhorrent human rights violations due to conflict linked to the situation. In Amazon region alone, we have seen how more than three hundred people have been killed in resource and land use conflict in the last decade. This is really awful and can never be accepted.

SOUNDBITE (English), Virginijus SINKEVICIUS, We are assessing all possible impacts that we, of course, have to consider. Also the costs and administrative burden, especially on a SMEs.

SOUNDBITE (English), Virginijus SINKEVICIUS, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, I can only strongly reassure you that tackling global deforestation does not mean we stop looking at our domestic forest. Quiet on the contrary. This Commission, and I personally, are truly committed to fighting the worrying phenomenon of illegal logging.

SOUNDBITE (English), Virginijus SINKEVICIUS, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, I'm preparing a forest strategy which updates the previous one and will take into account the recent resolution adopted by this Parliament.

Extracts from the announcement of the vote results: 695 votes, 377 in favor, 75 against, 243 abstensions. The report is adopted.

Illustrative shoots of deforestation in Brazil.

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

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