Twice in as many weeks, the conservative EPP party of EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has joined with the far-right bloc to unravel flagship environmental legislation, to the dismay of the left.
Earlier this month, the camps teamed up to gut a bill imposing social and environmental due diligence on big companies — in the name of cutting back red tape.
On Wednesday, they did it again by backing a one-year delay to a landmark law aimed at curbing deforestation — a move also supported by part of the centrist group, Renew. Less than 18 months after making big gains in EU elections, the far right is delighted at the turn of events.
“We’re at a tipping point,” said a lawmaker from the Patriots group, which is headed by France’s National Rally, speaking anonymously.