European citizens petition against weakening of nature protection laws

More than 1.25 million Europeans have signed a petition calling on the European Commission to refrain from weakening or revising key environmental protections. The signatories are specifically targeting the Birds Directive, the Habitats Directive, and the Water Framework Directive, which serve as the foundation for biodiversity and water protection across Europe.

The petition comes as the European Commission considers potential revisions to these directives. Environmental organizations argue that such changes could undermine the protection of vulnerable species and habitats at a time when biodiversity is already in decline. Critics of the proposed revisions suggest that weakening these laws creates legal uncertainty without effectively accelerating the energy transition or enhancing European competitiveness.