Impacts for peatlands on the 2024-2029 EU priorities
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Advocacy
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Peatlands
On 1 December 2024, a new European Commission, led by re-elected President Ursula von der Leyen, began its second mandate to deliver the 2024-2029 work programme.
The 2024-2029 agenda marks a shift in EU priorities, with democracy elevated as a central focus and increased emphasis on rule of law, migration, and health in response to recent crises. Environmental goals are now framed within the broader context of economic competitiveness and industrial strategy, linking initiatives like green and digital transformation to growth. However, this shift risks sidelining ecological protection, including the restoration of critical ecosystems such as peatlands, in favour of economic competitiveness.
The EU’s priorities for each five-year cycle are set through a collaborative process involving EU leaders, national ministers, institutions, and political groups. The European Council’s Strategic Agenda sets the framework for the European Commission’s political guidelines, which shapes the policy direction for the term. Once adopted, these priorities are reflected in Annual Work Programmes, which turn priorities into legislative and non-legislative proposals for Parliament and the Council.
The priorities for the new mandate are shaped by recent crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine-Russian conflict, and unrest in the Middle East. The European Council outlined three guiding pillars, reflected in the Commission’s seven priorities, with President von der Leyen emphasizing three core elements: prosperity, security, and democracy. Central to the strategy is enhancing Europe’s competitiveness and resilience by simplifying regulations, fostering innovation, and strengthening the Single Market to support SMEs and industrial self-reliance.
Our briefing analyses the EU’s 2024-2029 policy priorities, highlighting key differences from the previous mandate and their potential impacts for peatlands. While Directorate-Generals priorities are yet to be defined, this document highlights policies that will have an impact on peatlands in the new mandate.
