EU Nature Restoration Law still within reach after surprising support from Austria

The European Nature Restoration Law (NRL) still has a chance of passing. Austria is making a U-turn and appears to be helping the controversial law gain enough support from EU countries. The official vote on it will take place on Monday.

The nature restoration law, which is supposed to stop the destruction of nature but, according to opponents, hinders farmers and companies, was adopted by the European Parliament after heated debates and negotiations. However, the Netherlands turned against it, as the majority in the Tweede Kamer adopted a motion from the BBB and NSC calling for Nature and Nitrogen Minister Christianne van der Wal to vote down the law. As a result, the required support from a generous majority of EU member states was lacking.

The country did not want to support the law because Austria was internally divided over the law. However, Green Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler now supports it, she said at a press conference on Sunday. She wants to vote in favor of the law on Monday when she meets with her EU colleagues in Luxembourg.

Gewessler said it was "harmful and wrong" that the Austrian regions had moved in concert to block the legislation. Things were now "moving forward", she said in a statement, euronews reported.

"If the federal states abandon their uniform position, everyone can rely on one thing: I will do everything I can to ensure that Austria agrees to the EU law on the protection of nature," Gewessler said.

It is still uncertain whether the law will indeed receive the approval of the required generous majority of EU member states on Monday. It is not impossible for a proponent like Slovakia to turn the other way. However, EU diplomats have seen no indication of this so far.

In recent years, the Nature Restoration Law has become an important trophy in the fight for nature and climate and for the increasingly vocal movement of people who believe that things are going too fast. Farmers, who already have great difficulty complying with current regulations, are very resistant to the law, and they see even stricter environmental regulations as a threat to their companies. Advocates point out that preserving species diversity is crucial for nature and for slowing climate change.

The NRL proponents were very keen to have it approved this month. In two weeks' time, Hungary will take over the EU presidency, and then, according to them, the opportunity would be lost for the time being. Moreover, a new European Commission is taking office, which appears to want to pursue a less energetic climate and environmental policy than the previous one. Several Member States also have less ambitions in this area than before.