Many Member States are still lagging behind in the implementation of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. The Natura 2000 network of protected sites is still incomplete in some Member States, with the designation of marine sites being a particular priority. At the same time, the proper implementation and enforcement of the EU Nature Directives comes increasingly into focus. It is in the core interest of both nature conservation and economic development that land and water use planning systems and impact assessments guarantee the proper protection
and management of the Natura 2000 network. As one of the most important EU Member States in terms of biodiversity, Spain should use the opportunity of its Presidency to promote better protection, management and financing of the Natura 2000 network.

Under the Spanish Presidency:

• Member States must urgently move towards completion of their terrestrial and marine Natura 2000 sites.
• Spain should lead by example and designate its identified marine Important Bird Areas as Special Protection Areas under the Birds Directive.
• The European Commission, supported by the Presidency, should publish the results of the 2009 survey of Member States on the costs of financing the management and protection of the Natura 2000 network and insist on adequate funding for Natura 2000 as a key principle of the wider EU budget debate.
• The European Commission should significantly increase its efforts and resources to ensure adequate implementation of the EU Nature Directives by Member States, including through the use of tools such as site management plans and Strategic Environmental Assessment.

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Implementation of EU Nature Directives needed more than ever

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