EU Climate Policy Gives Up on Tractor Protests... Agricultural Regulations Abandoned

French Farmers Block Major Paris Arterial Roads
Protests Spread to Germany and Netherlands
Climate Regulations Rollback After Intense Enforcement

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

The European Union (EU) has reportedly abandoned climate regulations in the agricultural sector following large-scale protests by European farmers centered in France. The EU's climate regulations, which had been strongly enforced in response to various weather anomalies and global warming warnings from the scientific community, are expected to be significantly rolled back.

According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 6th (local time), the EU Commission has completely scrapped the agricultural sector regulations originally planned as part of the 2040 climate goals. The previously released draft included stringent regulations aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture by more than 30% compared to 2015 levels, but all of these have been discarded.

Earlier that day, the Commission also announced it would withdraw the 'Sustainable Use Regulation (SUR)' targeting a 50% reduction in pesticide use by 2030. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, stated, "The legislative process for SUR has reached a deadlock," adding, "We will effectively reconsider it from scratch."

This regulatory rollback is interpreted as the EU stepping back in response to the fierce protests by European farmers ahead of the EU's environmental regulation announcement. Protests led by French farmers involved blocking major arterial roads in Paris with tractors. As the protests began to spread to farmers in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and other European countries, the EU ultimately raised the white flag.

Wopke Hoekstra, EU Commissioner for Climate Action, also explained during a speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, that "While the majority of citizens want protection from the impacts of climate change, they are also concerned about how it will affect their livelihoods," adding, "We need to take a balanced approach."

There is also analysis suggesting that the upcoming European Parliament elections in June are influencing this decision. Considering that farmers form a major support base for far-right parties gaining ground across European countries, there are concerns that this could significantly impact the European Parliament elections.