We, Generation Climate Europe (GCE), express deep concern over the European Commission’s reported plans to postpone the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by up to one year, as we firmly believe that any delay at this stage would severely undermine Europe’s credibility as a global climate and biodiversity leader and send a dangerous signal that commercial convenience can outweigh planetary responsibility. Forests continue to disappear at alarming rates, and the EU remains one of the world’s largest importers of embedded deforestation.
While we recognise the need to support small and micro-operators and ensure proper digital infrastructure for traceability, a blanket delay risks creating loopholes, legal uncertainty, and competitive disadvantages for companies already investing in compliance. Above all, it would erode trust among citizens and young people who expect the EU to deliver on its environmental promises.
GCE calls on the European Commission, the European Parliament, and Member States to uphold the 30 December 2025 implementation deadline for all large operators and importers, while offering targeted and transparent support for smaller ones, not a full postponement.
We further urge policymakers to:
- Maintain full due diligence and geolocation requirements without exemptions.
- Ensure public transparency on the readiness of the EUDR IT system and progress toward implementation.
- Provide technical and financial assistance for smallholders in producer countries to comply without being excluded from the EU market.
- Involve youth and civil society in monitoring and accountability mechanisms to ensure long-term integrity and inclusivity.
In this critical decade, Europe must choose leadership over hesitation. The EUDR is a cornerstone of the EU Green Deal and a signal of global responsibility. Generation Climate Europe urges the Commission to stand firm: implement the law on time, close the loopholes, and protect the world’s forests for people, for climate, and for the generations to come.
Open Letter to send to the European Commission
Your voice matters.
Now is the moment for citizens across Europe to stand up for forests and for the integrity of the EU Green Deal. If you want the EU to implement the EUDR on time and without loopholes, take action today.
Submit your message directly to the European Commission via this link: https://commission.europa.eu/about/organisation/president/contact-president_en
Subject: Urgent: No Loopholes in the Implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation
Dear President von der Leyen, Executive Vice-Presidents, and Commissioners,
As a concerned citizen of the European Union, I am writing to urge you to ensure that the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) remains robust, transparent, and free from any loopholes that could weaken its impact. This landmark law stands as one of the EU’s most powerful instruments to combat global deforestation, protect biodiversity, and ensure that our consumption no longer fuels the destruction of forests across the world.
In particular, I am deeply concerned about ongoing discussions regarding the simplification of requirements for downstream operators and traders. Any such simplifications risk creating loopholes that could undermine the entire system’s effectiveness and distort fair competition. Many responsible companies have already invested significant resources to become EUDR-compliant. They are not the ones calling for downregulation or weaker rules.
The Commission’s focus should now be on ensuring that:
- The EUDR’s IT system functions effectively, providing clarity and accessibility to operators of all sizes;
- There is full transparency and traceability throughout the entire supply chain; and
- The regulation’s core objectives including halting deforestation and promoting sustainable supply chains are not compromised in the name of administrative ease.
Simplifying the law at this stage would send the wrong signal to businesses and citizens who have acted in good faith, and it would risk creating uneven enforcement and new loopholes for irresponsible actors to exploit.
The EUDR represents a cornerstone of the European Green Deal and the EU’s credibility as a global climate leader. Please ensure that its implementation lives up to that promise. With no shortcuts, no loopholes, and full transparency from production to consumption.
With hope and determination,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Country]
