The Nature Restoration Law was adopted on June 17, 2024, at the Environment Council (ENV). EU member states must now present their nature restoration plans which provides an opportunity to improve marine ecosystems at a national level and ensures a real change.
This Law faced an intense disinformation campaign in the European Parliament and was at one point at risk of rejection in the Environment Council. Over a million signatures and messages from citizens, calls from more than 6,000 scientists, and support from over 100 companies, youth organizations, and civil society groups from various sectors (including Sunce) defended the Law and the integrity of the European Green Deal. In the end, support for the Law prevailed.
Austrian Minister Leonore Gewessler: the vote that passed the Law
The Nature Restoration Law had already been adopted in the European Parliament in February, but it required the support of EU member states. Irish Environment Minister Eamon Ryan and Belgian Environment Minister Alain Maron worked intensely behind the scenes to secure the necessary support.
With a majority of 20 countries that represent 66.07% of the population, the Law was officially accepted. This outcome was possible thanks to Austrian Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler, who at the last moment showed leadership and, by changing Austria’s previous stance, supported the Law.
Austrian Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler, a member of the Green Party, made the controversial decision to support the EU Nature Restoration Law despite strong opposition from Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and potential legal consequences.
The day before the crucial meeting, she announced her decision in a surprise press conference, calling it a voice of conscience. The minister emphasized that she was ready to take responsibility so she could tell her nieces she did everything she could to preserve nature.
In the end, Gewessler’s bold move ensured the passage of the Law. She proved that any advocacy for nature protection pays off despite challenges and opposition.
Recently, we also learned that Ursula von der Leyen, re-elected as President of the European Commission, presented political guidelines promising to support initiatives promoting the blue economy and ensuring effective management and sustainability of seas and oceans.
Key elements for effective marine restoration
The key elements for effective marine restoration represent the fundamental guidelines for implementing the EU Nature Restoration Law. These elements not only define the legal obligations of member states but also ensure concrete steps for protecting marine ecosystems and preserving their biodiversity. They are a crucial step towards achieving the European Green Deal’s goals by 2030, enabling the long-term protection of marine ecosystems in Europe.
- Adoption of a legally binding target for strict protection of at least 10% of European seas by 2030.
- Mechanisms to ensure that restoration measures are not jeopardized by destructive fishing practices.
- Ensuring transparency of processes and outcomes of national nature restoration plans of EU member states, including the involvement of all relevant stakeholders in the drafting and monitoring processes.
- Establishing mechanisms to overcome ineffective procedures of the Common Fisheries Policy that could hinder control of destructive offshore fishing practices and achieving marine ecosystem restoration goals.
- Better regulation and control of other negative impacts on marine ecosystems, such as free anchoring, land reclamation, coastal concreting, and wastewater discharge.
– Posidonia meadows are threatened by the use of trawling tools as well as free anchor dropping. To halt further degradation and enable the restoration of this extremely important and endangered marine habitat, it is essential to establish effective anchoring control and frameworks for further development of nautical tourism in the Adriatic, – commented Zrinka Jakl, Head of Nature Conservation Department at Sunce.
Why is Article 14 of the Law important?
Although the Law is not as ambitious as we had hoped, it includes key provisions for oceans and seas, and it’s linked with the EU Common Fisheries Policy.
Unsustainable fishing is the largest driver of biodiversity loss in our seas. The legislative proposal requires member states to provide detailed fisheries measures they plan to adopt within their national restoration plans under the Common Fisheries Policy. Unfortunately, it does not include a safeguard mechanism to overcome potential deadlocks among member states to ensure the restoration of marine ecosystems by 2030 as planned.
Article 14 of the Law establishes the following:
- It obligates EU countries to identify when to use the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in their restoration plans and to jointly develop necessary fisheries measures for restoration (e.g., restrictions on destructive fishing in restoration areas).
- It requires them to include their intentions and timelines for developing these joint fisheries recommendations in their national restoration plans.
- It sets a deadline of July 2028 for countries to submit joint fisheries recommendations to the European Commission to achieve marine restoration goals.
- In case of delays or lack of joint recommendations, the European Commission can take emergency measures.
This Law is a key part of the EU’s efforts to restore 20% of its terrestrial and marine areas by 2030. It is time to adopt strong regulations that will turn words into actions and ensure the survival of nature and people on our planet!