Landmark EU nature restoration plan gets the green light despite months of protests by farmers

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN
Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union countries have given final approval to a major and long-awaited plan to better protect nature in the 27-nation bloc. The Nature Restoration Plan survived a razor-thin vote by lawmakers last summer but faced opposition from several member states. Relentless farmers’ protests left the bill deadlocked. It was finally adopted at a meeting of environment ministers in Luxembourg after rallying the required support from a qualified majority of EU member states and population. The Nature Restoration plan is part of the EU’s European Green Deal that seeks to establish the world’s most ambitious climate and biodiversity targets.