Story | 16 Nov, 2017

MEPs ask European Commission to start planning to protect biodiversity after 2020

IUCN welcomes today’s Resolution from the European Parliament on the EU Action Plan for Nature, People and the Economy and joins the Parliament in asking the Commission to start working without delay on the next EU Biodiversity Strategy, for the period post-2020.

Photo: © European Union 2014 - European Parliament

During the debate, Commissioner for Environment Karmenu Vella stressed that the Action Plan is not enough, as it needs to be implemented before it can be considered sufficient. “We still need tremendous efforts to achieve the 2020 biodiversity targets,” said Luc Bas, Director of the IUCN European Regional Office, adding, “All of us, but especially the European Commission and Member States, need to start to prepare for the future, ensuring a stronger effort to invest in environmentally sustainable economic activities through the EU budget after 2020, especially through the Common Agricultural Policy.”

IUCN also welcomes the confirmation from Commissioner Vella during the debate that the EU executive will come forward with a dedicated initiative on pollinators.

The European Parliament Resolution can be found here.