The EU’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) – designed to keep deforestation, forest degradation, and wood from illegal logging out of EU supply chains – is under political pressure again. Just months before it is due to take effect, a coordinated push by certain EU member states and industry is threatening to reopen and weaken the law through an "omnibus simplification package". In July 2025, a group of 18 agriculture ministers, led by Austria, demanded the creation of a new "no-risk" category that would exempt countries with "increasing tree cover" from due diligence checks. In effect, the proposed changes would create new loopholes allowing non-compliant products to enter the European market – a gift to illegal loggers.
In response to the European Commission’s call for evidence on the simplification package proposal, on September 10, 2025, Agent Green and the Bruno Manser Fonds submitted a briefing summarising evidence from recent research and forest investigations in Romania and sent an open letter to Jessika Roswall, the EU Commissioner responsible for environment, water resilience and a competitive circular economy. The provided data focus on: 1) Romania’s large share of primary and old-growth forests and their lack of legal protection; 2) Romania’s illegal wood logging and related forest degradation, including the EU infringement cases on EUTR and the Nature Directives; and 3) Loopholes in national legislation and in the SUMAL timber traceability system.
Findings from recent investigations, the National Forest Inventory and scientific studies indicate that Romania is a country with a track record of illegal wood logging and related degradation of forest ecosystems. Forest investigations conducted by Agent Green over the past two years have detected illegal logging with breaches of EU and national laws all across Romania. They are based on satellite images, drone footage, field observations, analysis of SUMAL data and documents such as forest management plans. In addition, recent scientific studies suggest that Romania is a country with a history of forest cover loss and forest degradation. On this basis, we conclude that Romania is a country which exhibits a considerable not a “negligible” risk of illegal wood logging.
Across Europe, a strong and timely EUDR has been supported by the civil society and more than 60 major companies that have already invested in EUDR compliance. Civil society groups have also warned against introducing loopholes such as the “no-risk” category, highlighting that it would ignore widespread forest degradation in Europe itself, which is fast reducing the forests' ability to absorb carbon dioxide.
The European Commission has so far resisted calls to reopen the law, instead publishing guidance and a Delegated Act to support implementation. But the simplification package may trigger new negotiations and a watered down outcome.
The coming months will be decisive. With deforestation responsible for around 12% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions, the EUDR is more than just a European law – it is a global signal. Reopening it now would not only undermine Europe’s credibility as a leader on climate and trade standards, but also risk sending a dangerous message worldwide: that enforcing environmental law is optional.
Additional information:
Policy briefing submitted to the European Commission
Open letter: Uphold the EUDR to keep Romania’s forests standing