European Union: EU Parliament Adopts Negotiating Positions on Deforestation-Free Supply Chains and Renewable Energy

On September 13 & 14, the European Union Parliament adopted its negotiating positions on Deforestation-Free Supply Chains regulations and revisions to the Renewable Energy Directive. The two files will now enter trilogue negotiations, where the Council, Parliament, and Commission will work to reach a compromise text. On Deforestation, there are differences between their positions on the scope of covered products, legal definitions, the rate of inspection controls, due diligence requirements, and transparency in benchmarking assessments of third countries. On the Renewable Energy Directive, Parliament voted to cap of the share of primary woody biomass that counts towards the EU’s renewable energy targets and limit public subsidies for their use. Parliament also proposed technical changes that would restrict the use of soy as a feedstock for biofuels. Trilogue negotiations between the three institutions will begin in the coming weeks.