During the plenary session (25-28 November 2019) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the protection of forest and environmental defenders in the EU. Statements by Neven MIMICA, Member of the EC in charge of International Cooperation and Development, Daniel BUDA (EPP, RO), Maria ARENA (S&D, BE), María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS (RE, ES), Marie TOUSSAINT (Greens/EFA, FR) and Emmanuel MAUREL (GUE/NGL, FR).

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

environmental protection (T)

ARENA, Maria (S&D, BE)

MIMICA, Neven (HR, EC)

BUDA, Daniel (EPP, RO)

MAUREL, Emmanuel (The Left, FR)

RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, María Soraya (Renew, ES)

TOUSSAINT, Marie (Greens/EFA, FR)

Protection of forest and environmental defenders in the EU: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Neven MIMICA, Member of the EC in charge of International Cooperation and Development, Environmental crime is also considered a threat to European security and to the well-being of citizens. It has therefore been included in the EU policy cycle against serious and organised crime that covers the period from 2018 to 2021.

SOUNDBITE (English), Neven MIMICA, Member of the EC in charge of International Cooperation and Development, The recent communication on stepping up EU action to protect and restore the world's forests shows that the European Union is increasing its efforts to step up global action against biodiversity loss. The Commission has been alerted on the reported cases of continued illegal logging in some Member states, including in primary forests, and is carefully assessing the situation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Neven MIMICA, Member of the EC in charge of International Cooperation and Development, The Commission has been alerted on the reported cases of continued illegal logging in some Member states, including in primary forests, and is carefully assessing the situation.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Daniel BUDA (EPP, RO), The European Commission and the Member states have once again to support measures for the reforestation of damaged land and also on land which is not fit for agriculture.

SOUNDBITE (French), Maria ARENA (S&amp;D, BE), Two people were killed, yes, last year while fighting against illegal logging in the UK. Three people were sentenced to long prison prison sentences for having demonstrated against shale gas. Environmental activists often put their lives in danger because their action is threatening invested financial interests. It's important that we have tough and binding legislation to force companies to be responsible for any acts hamper harming activists.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Mar&#237;a Soraya RODR&#205;GUEZ RAMOS (RE, ES), In 2018 247 environmental leaders have been shot at, persecuted or kidnapped precisely because they stood up for the environment. The destruction of biodiversity does not only involve infringements or laws, but this is dumping on human rights. Therefore, the EU needs to take the appropriate measures to defend those who stand up for our environment and have attacked.

SOUNDBITE (French), Marie TOUSSAINT (Greens/EFA, FR), We are complicit. We're silent. We have to bring an end to this silence. Now, the European Union now must condemn environmental crimes and the people who are protecting these people who commit the crimes. We've got to have more commitment now to protect the people who are helping us to live on a habitable planet.

SOUNDBITE (French), Emmanuel MAUREL (GUE/NGL, FR), I think the time has come for us to stop showing such great hypocrisy. We're talking about protecting European forests while at the same time exporting deforestation by finding signing trade agreements which lead directly to the deforestation of primary and ancient forest around the world. For example, agreeing with Vietnam or the ongoing negotiations with Mercosur, which will be a clear incitement to cut down forests. 

SOUNDBITE (French), Emmanuel MAUREL (GUE/NGL, FR), We also need to improve coordination of European legislation. We've got all sorts of text scattergun approach. We need a more harmonized approach, taking a similar approach to farming development of organic food and also, of course, the timber industry. That's an important challenge for the next Commission and Parliament.