European Commission faces criticism over potential environmental law revisions

The European Commission has included the review of the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive, which govern the Natura 2000 protected areas network, in its 2027 work program. This move has drawn sharp condemnation from the #HandsOffNature coalition, comprising WWF EU, BirdLife Europe, the European Environmental Bureau, and ClientEarth.

The coalition argues that the proposed revisions contradict the Commission’s own stress test results, which suggest that these regulations require better enforcement rather than legislative changes. Environmentalists warn that weakening these protections could undermine Europe’s ability to adapt to climate change and increase risks from floods, heatwaves, and pollution. The coalition also noted that the proposal follows a petition signed by 1.25 million citizens opposing such revisions.

In a separate development regarding EU accession, Serbian Minister for Environmental Protection Sara Pavkov stated that the European Commission recognized Serbia’s progress in environmental protection and climate change mitigation. The Commission’s report highlighted advancements in adopting strategic documents, air quality management, and carbon emission taxation systems, which are critical for Chapter 27 negotiations.