• Recommendation on Natura 2000 designation: Finalize the formal national designation process for all sites. Designation decrees must be adopted for all Natura 2000 sites, specifying the conservation objectives for the protected species and habitats and site boundaries.

Finalize the formal designation process for all qualifying marine Natura 2000 sites under national law. Identify and designate more marine sites that qualify as Natura 2000 sites. Increase management and protection of these areas against unsustainable fisheries and reduce by-catch of marine mammals and seabirds in fishing nets.

• Recommendation on Natura 2000 management: Management plans have to be developed more expeditiously. Conservation measures have to be adopted that ensure that species and habitats do not decline further and are restored to favourable conservation status. Almost all Natura 2000 sites must have operational management plans. The legal and financial programme for reducing agricultural impacts on species and habitats must function properly.

• Recommendation on Natura 2000 financing: Ensure that sufficient funding is available for management and restoration of Natura 2000 sites. Costs for maintaining and restoring Natura 2000 sites in the Netherlands are transparent, clearly defined and prioritized.

• Recommendation on threats from a specific sector - Farmland birds conservation: Meadow and farmland birds should be better protected. The Common Agricultural Policy has to support farmland bird restoration instead of being one of the main drivers for loss of biodiversity. The decline of farmland bird species must be halted.