Of the 3 billion trees the European Commission pledged to plant, few have actually been planted.

Omissions

• The most concrete quantified figure found ('less than 1% planted') is from a 2024 secondary source (de Volkskrant); no updated EU-wide figure for 2025-2026 appears in the sources retrieved, so the exact current planted count cannot be verified from a primary official source.
• The 3 billion trees target is a voluntary pledge under the EU Biodiversity Strategy/Forest Strategy and is not legally binding; the Commission does not itself plant the trees but relies on Member States, citizens and businesses.
• The most recent independent reporting available (de Volkskrant, 2024) predates the session date by roughly two years, so the MEP could not have cited a 2026 figure from it.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Environment Agency — Forest Information System for Europe (3 Billion Trees)Under the European Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 commits to planting at least 3 billion additional trees in the EU by 2030; the EU forest strategy for 2030 includes a roadmap on how to achieve the 3 billion additional trees pledge.
• Secondaryde Volkskrant — 'Van Timmermans' 3 miljard beloofde bomen is nog geen procent geplant'Headline: 'Van Timmermans' 3 miljard beloofde bomen is nog geen procent geplant' (Of Timmermans' 3 billion promised trees, not even one percent has been planted). Body: 'Die 3 miljard bomen vormen 1,76% van het totale oppervlak aan bos in Europa.'
• SecondaryFollow the Money — 'Op zoek naar de drie miljard bomen van Frans Timmermans''Het probleem is dat het bomenplan volledig leunt op betrokken burgers, vrijwilligersorganisaties en sponsoring door het bedrijfsleven.' (The problem is that the tree plan relies entirely on engaged citizens, volunteer organisations and corporate sponsorship.)