This decision closes a two-year long evidence-based evaluation, which concluded that our European nature laws remain relevant and are fit for purpose. This is in line with IUCN’s policy of non-regression in environmental policy and law. It also follows on from last year where  IUCN called on the EU and its Member States to focus efforts on the full implementation of the EU Nature Directives. This included accelerating the designation of marine Natura 2000 protected areas by substantially improving site management and by tackling the direct and underlying causes of biodiversity loss, such as agriculture.

Luc Bas, Director, IUCN European Regional Office said: “We should be happy about today’s decision, but let us remember only a regression in legislation has been prevented and what we need is an acceleration of the implementation. We only have four years left to achieve European and global biodiversity goals.”

Read the full 'Fitness Check' evaluation here.

IUCN is the world's largest nature conservation organisation, with 330 European Members, including 15 State Members in Europe (Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom).