July 18, 2023

 

Poland criticises Nature Restoration Law due to possible impact on agriculture

 

 

The Nature Restoration Law adopted by European Parliament on July 12 faced criticism by the ruling camp and opposition politicians in Poland due to the potential consequences it could have for agriculture and forestry.

 

Critics argued that it would hit farmers and lead to limiting food production and increasing its prices. Despite the appeals by green NGOs, most Polish MEPs from the ruling coalition and the centre-liberal Civic Platform, the biggest opposition party, voted against the proposed position.

 

"The EU House's (position on) the Nature Restoration Law leading to reducing the agricultural land by 10% would harm Europe's food security," tweeted Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, leader of opposition centrist Polish People's Party (PSL).

 

Under the negotiating position, the European Union must have restoration measures in place by 2030 covering at least 20% of its land and sea areas, according to the Parliament's press release.

 

Kosiniak-Kamysz said the effect would be a collapse of thousands of farms, rising food prices and greater dependence on imports, calling for "those horrible changes" to be reversed.

 

The new draft law means liquidating millions of hectares of agricultural land, which will practically destroy European agriculture, according to the Polish ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party MEP, former prime minister Beata Szydło.

 

Under Brussels' vision, in over seven years, Europe will become a big reserve, with no agriculture and with the industry hit by high energy prices, she tweeted, adding that "people, jobs, food do not interest the radicals from Brussels."

 

MEPs, who voted in favour of the negotiating position, stress that restoring the ecosystem is essential to tackling climate change and biodiversity loss and reduces risks to food security. They also argued that the draft law does not impose the creation of new protected areas in the EU. Neither does it blocks new renewable energy infrastructure, they added.

 

Contrary to Poland's concerns, rapporteur César Luena said the Nature Restoration Law "follows the scientific consensus and recommendations to restore Europe's ecosystems," and both farmers and fishers will benefit from it.

- EURACTIV