Christian Democrats gut deforestation law with far-right support

"With every amendment, Christian Democrats further gut forest protection: more exceptions, less control, postponement of the law. The last great rainforests on earth are disappearing before our eyes, yet Christian Democrats choose to give companies that contribute to this even more time."

Strasbourg, 26 November 2025 - The European Parliament voted today on gutting and delaying the European deforestation law, which requires companies to verify that their products do not contribute to forest destruction. "Christian Democrats are playing a dishonest game. They pretend to protect European forests, but vote for further weakening and once again rely on the far-right to push this through", responds Sara Matthieu, Green MEP and Environmental Coordinator for the European Greens.

Christian Democrats weaken forest protection
"With every amendment, Christian Democrats further gut forest protection: more exceptions, less control, postponement of the law. The last great rainforests on earth are disappearing before our eyes, yet Christian Democrats choose to give companies that contribute to this even more time. The precedent set by collaborating with the far-right to gut the due diligence law is now shamelessly being repeated", says Matthieu.

"What should have been a simple technical adjustment has now become an attack on forests worldwide. By reopening the regulation, the Commission has opened a Pandora's box in which governments and political groups can hollow out the anti-deforestation law - with even the risk that it will be attacked again in a few months.
This attack harms companies that do take their responsibility and partner countries that commit to sustainability. It undermines one of the EU's most important instruments against deforestation. Right after the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, this is shameful."

Greens call on Commission to withdraw proposal

"Every year of delay means more forest lost - including in Europe itself. This undermines our food security, threatens our supply chains and increases economic risks for European businesses and citizens. I call on the Commission to immediately withdraw this proposal and return to what it should have been: a purely technical adjustment of the IT system", says Matthieu. "Every day these negotiations continue, the law is further hollowed out. Stop this dismantling now."

The adopted version includes postponement of the law's implementation, easements for small businesses, a transition period without fines, and a review clause that opens the door for new attacks on the law in the future.