A hot and active month
After weeks of heated debate, the proposal for a Nature Restoration Law has finally been backed by the European Parliament. A total rejection of this legislation was averted, but the victory was narrow and costly. Compromises were made on the level of ambition to secure a majority, and opposition will not simply go away. Meanwhile, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) has once again underlined the need for action on nature and soil restoration. The EU and Member States have not made effective use of existing policies and funding to promote sustainable soil management. The result is further degradation of our soils, which are the basis of agricultural production now and in the future. We will return to this important topic after the summer break in the next episode of the EJD podcast with Cees Veerman, Chairman of the EU Soil Mission. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to make sure you don't miss out when the interview is published after the summer break.
July was also a busy month when it comes to advancing the EU's green trade agenda. Key highlights include the call for feedback launched by the Commission on the CBAM implementation rules, the signature of the landmark agreement between the EU and New Zealand, and the visit by U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to Brussels to discuss transatlantic cooperation on critical raw materials and sustainable steel and aluminium. Last but not least,the 3rd EU-CELAC Summit restored some hope about the EU-Mercosur trade talks, with Brazilian President Lula da Silva stating to be “very much optimistic, for the first time, that we will manage to conclude this agreement” and announcing that Mercosur's counterproposal will be delivered in the next two to three weeks.
As the EU's trade agenda continues to progress at a rapid pace, so do our efforts to advocate for a new EU approach to greening trade that better integrates the development dimension. Building on our most recent publication GT14 and continuous work on the trade-environment-development nexus (''the triangle''), EJD is organizing a series of events in the coming months, starting with a session at the European Forum Apbach on 29 August in Austria. Furthermore, together with Tulip Consulting, EJD is hosting a panel discussion during the WTO Public Forum in Geneva, which will take place on Thursday, 14 September 2023. Finally, EJD is planning an event at COP 28 on the role of Trade and the rules-based multilateral trading system in accelerating climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. Stay tuned for more details about our exciting event at COP 28!
In Kingston, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has decided not to grant an exploitation permit to Nauru as long as a consensus on regulations concerning the future of deep-sea mining in international waters has not been reached. A calendar to get there in 2025 has been set. Twenty-one countries are now embracing the idea of taking precautionary measures, implementing a moratorium, or even completely banning the exploitation of the seabed, notably France, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, and Palau. The fight to protect the seabed and its resources continues, as parties strive to find a balanced approach in addressing this complex issue.
The Africa-Europe Foundation (AEF) will also be present at COP 28, facilitating an open and inclusive dialogue on the ocean's potential to drive climate-friendly growth. Stronger cooperation on ocean-related issues can serve as a vital catalyst for the green transition in both Africa and Europe and can provide a timely impetusto strengthen a much-needed cross-continental partnership.
Geneviève Pons and the EJD team