EU ‘simplification’ of nature laws could mean weaker protections for wildlife
The European Union’s current review of its key nature conservation laws has raised concerns that the process could weaken the protections on which Europe’s wildlife and habitats depend.
The European Commission’s ‘simplification’ agenda has been presented as an effort to simplify legislation, improve understanding and implementation, and reduce bureaucracy, but Born Free is concerned that when it comes to wildlife protections, simplification could be synonymous with weakening.
As part of this process, the Commission is conducting a ‘Stress Test’ on the Birds and Habitats Directives – the cornerstones of nature conservation across the EU – which is designed to identify opportunities for simplifying the requirements of the Directives and reducing ‘administrative burdens’.
Born Free has responded to the associated consultation, making it clear that the Birds and Habitats Directives, together with the EU’s wider environmental legal framework, must be maintained, properly implemented, and fully enforced to ensure the EU lives up to its ambitions and its international obligations to protect and restore nature.
A badly framed agenda
The European Commission has stated that its agenda – to simplify EU legislation, improve coherence, facilitate implementation, and boost sustainable competitiveness – is not intended to weaken environmental protections.
However, nature protection laws are increasingly being portrayed as barriers to economic growth rather than essential safeguards for a resilient and sustainable future.
The public consultation, which took the form of a questionnaire, was clearly biased in its design and content, using terms such as ‘burden, ‘hassle’ and ‘cost’ in relation to the nature Directives.
A previous review in 2016 concluded that the Directives are fit for purpose, and that where properly implemented they have delivered important conservation successes and supported species recovery. The main challenge was found not to be the legislation itself, but rather ensuring its effective implementation through adequate resourcing and political commitment across Member States. This conclusion is still valid today.
Strong nature protections are vital
Born Free’s EU Policy Officer Elodie Cantaloube, who led Born Free’s response, said: “Nature provides clean air and water, healthy soils, pollination, flood protection, and many other benefits that support our health, food security, economies, and future prosperity.
“The EU’s Birds and Habitats Directives protect thousands of species and habitats and provide the legal foundation for the Natura 2000 network, the world’s largest coordinated network of protected areas. Together with the wider environmental legislative framework, they have played a critical role in protecting threatened species, safeguarding important habitats, and maintaining the ecological systems on which both wildlife and people depend.
“At a time of growing biodiversity loss, climate change, and environmental degradation, Europe, like the rest of the world, must strengthen efforts to protect and restore nature, not weaken existing nature protections which would increase the risks for wildlife, ecosystems, and people.”
Born Free will continue to engage with the European Commission and other decision-makers to ensure that Europe’s nature laws remain strong, effective, and capable of protecting wildlife for generations to come.