On May 13, COTANCE, together with its members UNIC – Concerie Italiane (Italy) & VDL (Germany), held an online meeting with MEP Christine Schneider (EPP) to discuss the critical state of play of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the ongoing revision of Annex I under art 34.

Ms Schneider was one of the lead authors of the amendments to the EUDR adopted by the European Parliament in October 2024 and strongly advocated for a minimum two-year postponement of the regulation’s entry into force.

At the meeting, she shared insights on the Commission’s omnibus simplification packages, the upcoming EUDR country benchmarking system, as well as an eventual further postponement.

COTANCE highlighted the regulation’s impact on the leather sector’s workforce & competitiveness.

“We all want to stop illegal deforestation — but the EUDR, as it stands, won’t achieve that,” said MEP Schneider.

The meeting confirmed a shared willingness to maintain regular dialogue and collaboration. COTANCE continues to call on EU policymakers to focus on what truly matters and to correct the regulation by removing hides, skins, and leather from the scope of the EUDR