If the next EU budget fails nature, it will fail us all

Floods, droughts, crop failures, polluted rivers, and soaring food prices. Across Europe, the impacts of a changing climate and damaged ecosystems are no longer distant threats. They’re here, and they’re affecting people’s lives and livelihoods. Whether you’re a farmer in France watching your harvest wither under a scorching sun, a family in Germany facing rising grocery bills, or a resident in Belgium hit by yet another “once-in-a-century” flood – nature’s decline is hitting all of our homes.

What many still don’t realise is that healthy nature is one of our strongest defences. Forests, wetlands, meadows, and pollinators aren’t just beautiful – they’re vital infrastructure. They cool our cities, shelter our crops from wind and heat, clean our water, pollinate our food, and protect our homes from floods. Yet across Europe, this natural safety net is being degraded – and current EU investment simply isn’t enough to stop it.

As the EU prepares its next long-term budget – the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) post-2027 – we are at a crossroads. Will Europe continue to underfund the ecosystems we all depend on? Or will it finally recognise that investing in nature is investing in resilience, food security, and public health?

The answer should be obvious, but right now, the signs are worrying.

Despite longstanding commitments enshrined in EU law – from the Birds and Habitats Directives, cornerstones of European environmental legislation, to the newly adopted Nature Restoration Law – implementation is lagging badly, mainly due to a lack of money. The funding gap is clear: an estimated €37 billion¹ is needed annually to restore and protect biodiversity in Europe. Compared to other pillars of the EU budget, this is a modest sum, especially given the direct, measurable benefits to citizens.

Yet in current budget talks, nature is once again being pushed to the margins. The LIFE programme – one of the EU’s most effective tools for supporting biodiversity – is facing an uncertain future, despite its proven success. LIFE accounts for just 0.3% of the EU budget, yet delivers returns estimated at more than ten times its cost. It has funded thousands of high-impact projects, bringing together local authorities, farmers, businesses and communities to restore ecosystems and build resilience.

Outside of LIFE, biodiversity funding relies on a flawed ‘mainstreaming’ approach – squeezing small allocations into larger funds like the Common Agricultural Policy or cohesion funds. But nature-related spending is too often deprioritised in favour of more politically visible or short-term goals. At the same time, harmful subsidies persist, undermining environmental progress and making the EU’s climate and biodiversity goals harder to reach.

We cannot afford to repeat this mistake.

Nature loss is not just an environmental issue – it’s an economic, social, and security issue. Without thriving ecosystems, Europe’s food systems, water supplies, and public health will continue to suffer. Rural and urban communities alike will face growing instability. The longer we delay, the higher the cost.

Civil society organisations across Europe have long called for dedicated, increased funding for nature in the EU budget – and for a strong, stable future for the LIFE programme. This is the only path to achieving the EU’s biodiversity targets and avoiding irreversible ecological damage.

Investing in nature offers one of the highest returns possible – in cleaner air, safer communities, more resilient economies, and healthier lives.

Yet the EU continues to treat nature as an optional extra; something to be funded if there’s anything left over. That logic is not just short-sighted. It’s dangerous.

We’re not running out of ideas. We’re running out of time – and excuses. If the next EU budget fails to put serious money behind nature, then it’s not just ecosystems that are being abandoned. It’s people.

By Lukas Traup, EU Nature Policy Officer, NABU (BirdLife’s Partner in Germany) and Honey Kohan, Head of Communications, BirdLife Europe

Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) feeding chick by Martin Mecnarowski/Shutterstock