Letter to EU Ambassadors on the Regulation to speed up environmental assessments

This letter urges Coreper II to defend strong EU environmental assessment and permitting rules ahead of its 30 September meeting on the Regulation to speed up environmental assessments. It argues that robust assessments are essential to protect ecosystems, water, health and livelihoods, while supporting Europe’s long-term resilience, competitiveness and decarbonisation. The letter warns that the proposed changes could weaken environmental safeguards, make risks harder to identify before damage occurs, and shift the costs of pollution and remediation onto citizens and local authorities. It also highlights evidence of businesses’ dependence on nature and the risks that simplification can create for sustainable investment.