The EU’s great green retreat benefits the far right. For the rest of us, it’s a looming disaster

The EU’s radical Green Deal has been shredded to appease agribusiness and extremists, only worsening environmental problems for future generations

An Irish Farmers Association protest at a Cork County Council meeting in February to highlight farmers' frustration and anger at regulations being imposed on them. Photo: Karlis Dzjamko

The EU’s great green deal cave-in has been nothing less than spectacular. As aggressive lobbying and violent farmers protests ramped up in the last year, Brussels has killed plans to cut pesticide use by half, to green farming practices, to ban toxic “forever” chemicals, to rein in livestock emissions and, last week, to restore nature to 20% of Europe’s land and seas.

The aim may have been to create breathing space. Predictably, that hasn’t worked. The bloc’s anti-deforestation regulation seems likely to be the next green reform for the chop, with 20 agriculture ministers reportedly calling for it to be pared back and suspended on Monday, citing “administrative burdens”.