The S&D Group deplores today’s vote in the European Parliament on the EU Deforestation Regulation, where the European People’s Party – backed by the far right – pushed through a position that undermines the core integrity of the law.

By insisting on an early review before the Regulation even enters into force, the adopted text violates our central red line. This “review” is, in practice, a stop-the-clock mechanism through the backdoor, introducing uncertainty and enabling possible postponement of implementation in the upcoming years. The right-wing majority also weakened traceability requirements for deforestation-risk products.

Given that the outcome directly threatens the enforceability of the Regulation and jeopardises the EU’s environmental leadership, the S&Ds had no choice but to vote against the weakened text.

Delara Burkhardt, S&D lead negotiator on the EU Deforestation Regulation, said:

“The EPP’s alignment with the far right on this crucial file is deeply worrying. Their demand for an early review is simply a disguised attempt to delay the law yet again at a later stage. This is not a technical correction but a political rollback.

“Every minute, around 100 trees are cut or burned down to satisfy Europe’s demand for coffee, cocoa, beef and other products. We want to put an end to the deforestation hidden in our shopping baskets. That is why the EU Deforestation Regulation must enter into force quickly and without loopholes, especially for large international companies with a high deforestation risk.

“We Social Democrats have put a constructive compromise for the political centre on the table: rapid application of the anti-deforestation rules for large companies, which bear particular responsibility, and more time for smaller companies. In parallel, the regulation’s challenges for small businesses would be looked at again in detail. But the EPP Group rejected our outstretched hand for a compromise among the pro-European forces.

“The EPP claims they want to cut red tape. In reality, their proposals do the opposite: a review of the regulation before it even applies to just a single company creates a limbo and maximum planning uncertainty. We want a European Union where businesses can rely on stability and predictability. Many large companies are already willing to do more for forest protection. They are now being held back. Companies striving for fair and sustainable supply chains will remain exposed to unfair and unsustainable competition."

Note to editors:

The EU Deforestation Regulation, adopted in 2023, aims to ensure that key commodities such as soy, beef, palm oil, cocoa, coffee, wood and rubber placed on the EU market do not contribute to global deforestation or forest degradation. It is a cornerstone of the European Green Deal and a crucial step in protecting nature and biodiversity worldwide. The anti-deforestation rules were originally supposed to apply to large companies as of December 2024 but were postponed already once last year to the end of 2025. Now, the Commission has proposed the full application of the regulation by June 2026. The Council and the EPP, however, support an application by the end of 2026 only, with a prior review of the regulation to take place already in April 2026.