Christian Ernhede

The European Environment Agency has found that most of Europe’s surface waters remains in a poor state, with agriculture and chemical pollutants a major contributor, as Commission officials maintain that the EU executive has a “clear determination” to tackle pesticide pollution.

The Hungarian presidency is standing firm against the European Commission’s broader stakeholder involvement in deciding the future direction of EU farming, underscoring that co-legislators have “sole responsibility” for political decisions on the bloc’s agriculture policy.

The Hungarian presidency has put forward a proposal for mandatory tax exemptions for aviation and shipping fuels, in an effort to reach a compromise on the Energy Taxation Directive.

Political group envoys have endorsed the environment commissioner-designate despite a “weak” parliamentary hearing, after repeatedly delaying their decision as part of a broader political battle.

Renew MEPs are pursuing last-minute negotiations to limit the damage of tabled amendments to the bloc’s deforestation regulation, amid speculation that the European Commission will withdraw the text if tweaked.

Lawmakers have adopted a series of controversial amendments to the EU Deforestation Regulation put forward by the conservative EPP group in a chaotic plenary sitting.

The conservative EPP group has narrowly pushed through an updated Parliament stance on the EU Deforestation Regulation with the backing of the far-right, as mainstream political groups explore possibilities for a revote after voting devices failed.

The EU Council appears unlikely to budge on the bloc’s anti-deforestation rules after MEPs agreed to push to reopen the text, with major member states expected to form a blocking minority.

Four political groups have criticised European Parliament president Roberta Metsola for pressing ahead with a vote on postponing the EU Deforestation Regulation despite malfunctioning voting devices.

Centre-right MEP Christine Schneider has slammed member states for blocking a broader revision of the EU’s deforestation legislation as “irresponsible”, after her appointment to lead interinstitutional negotiations on the file for the European Parliament.