Brussels puts a review of EU nature laws back on the table
Less than a month ago, 1.25 million people handed in signatures asking for them to be left alone. NGOs call it 'a political choice'.
The European Commission has put a review of the Birds and Habitats Directives back on the table. These are the two laws behind the Natura 2000 network of protected areas. It is included in the Commission’s 2027 work programme, presented in early November.
What it means
There is no concrete proposal yet. But the #HandsOffNature NGO coalition (WWF, BirdLife Europe, the European Environmental Bureau and ClientEarth) believes it opens the door to reopening and weakening these laws. It calls it “a political choice, not an evidence-based response”.
The Commission is itself running a “stress test” of the directives. According to the NGOs, its early findings point to the need for better implementation, funding and enforcement, not changes to the law.
Countries against
France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg and Spain have criticised the announcement. Renewable energy companies also warn that reopening the directives would bring legal uncertainty and more litigation.
1.25 million signatures
It comes shortly after the coalition handed 1.25 million signatures to Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall on 23 October, asking for the nature laws to be left alone.
The work programme also mentions a future water initiative. The NGOs want the Water Framework Directive to stay as it is.
Sources and references
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