Resolution on Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1093 of 22 May 2025 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards a list of countries that present a low or high risk of producing relevant commodities for which the relevant products do not comply with Article 3, point (a)

The European Parliament adopted by 373 votes 289, with 26 abstentions, a resolution on Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1093 of 22 May 2025 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards a list of countries that present a low or high risk of producing relevant commodities for which the relevant products do not comply with Article 3, point (a).

The resolution highlighted that the proposed risk categorisation of countries under Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 does not accurately reflect the current realities in the countries concerned, as it is based on outdated data and fails to incorporate all relevant and available risk indicators. Moreover, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1093 does not accurately reflect realities in the countries concerned as it fails to consider key real-world factors, most notably current land-use dynamics and forest degradation. Recognising degradation as a risk factor would result in certain Member States being placed in higher risk categories, thereby challenging the assumption that supply chains within the Union are automatically low-risk.

Furthermore, the methodology for the risk categorisation of countries lacks transparency in relation to how various risk factors are weighted and does not account for regional variability within countries. This raises serious concerns about the fairness and credibility of the classification methodology. The approach underlying the current methodology established in Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 does not provide sufficient flexibility to accommodate timely updates, thereby creating significant market uncertainty and potential volatility. The current risk classification model also fails to account for the volatility of global commodity markets, where price fluctuations, trade dynamics, and demand shifts can rapidly alter deforestation pressures. The current country benchmarking system may disincentivise cooperation and data sharing by countries producing relevant commodities, particularly if they perceive the risk categorisation of countries as unfair or politically motivated.

Against this background, Parliament considered that Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1093 exceeds the implementing powers provided for in Regulation (EU) 2023/1115. Therefore, it called on the Commission to:

- repeal Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1093;

- revise the country benchmarking system to ensure it is based on up-to-date data, allows for regional differentiation, and includes transparent weighting of risk indicators;

- establish clear, time-bound, and transparent procedures for reassessing risk categorisation of countries regularly based on measurable progress and updated scientific data.

It also stressed the importance of engaging with countries producing relevant commodities and stakeholders through inclusive and participatory processes, and of providing support for forest governance reforms and traceability systems. It called for complementary measures, such as forest partnerships, technical assistance, and fair-trade incentives, to accompany the benchmarking process and promote sustainable transformation in commodity-producing regions.