The German and Irish governments have secured the support of nine EU member states - including France and Spain - in a bid to rescue a law designed to reverse decades of drastic biodiversity loss across Europe.

A vote on the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) - whose text was agreed in quasi-formal talks with the European Parliament, but which a blocking minority of governments subsequently refused to give the final rubber stamp - is expected during an EU council summit of environment ministers on June 17, the last such meeting under the current Belgian presidency.