The coalitional politics of the European Union Regulation on deforestation-free products

This article analyzes the policy behind the new European Union Regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR) using the Coalition Defense Framework and the Baptist and Bootlegger Theory Two PRO-Regulation Coalitions are identified: one for Sustainable Development and another for Environmental concerns, which include EU institutions, member states, NGOs, civil society groups, and food and forest certifiers Additionally, a Business PRO-EUDR Coalition, composed of multinational corporations, import-dependent companies, and some EU agricultural producers, strategically joined the PRO-Regulation Coalitions to promote the EUDR Despite opposition from a weaker AGAINST-Regulation Coalition, the PRO-Regulation alliance succeeded in creating and adopting the EUDR The final regulation text represents a compromise reflecting the beliefs and interests of both state and non-state actors, with greater influence from change advocates.