The European Commission (EC) launched a public consultation on 12 May 2026 on the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives, the contributions to which will feed into a stress test of both instruments. The initiative forms part of the Commission's wider simplification initiative, which aims to strengthen EU competitiveness while safeguarding environmental, economic and social objectives.
The stress test is intended to assess whether the two Directives remain effective and cost-efficient in achieving their conservation objectives, and to identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary administrative burden without lowering the ambition or standards of nature protection they establish. It builds on the findings of the 2016 Fitness Check of the EU Nature Legislation and on feedback by stakeholders gathered through the Commission's implementation dialogues and its call for evidence on simplification of administrative burdens in environmental legislation. The stress test aims to focus more particularly on three main areas: the application of Article 6 of the Habitats Directive, with attention to the appropriate assessment procedure for Natura 2000 sites; policy coherence, stakeholder participation, funding support and governance, including monitoring and reporting; and species protection and derogations, together with the procedures for adapting the Directives' annexes to scientific and technical progress.
The public consultation is open to interested stakeholders until 10 August 2026. The results from the consultation will support the overall process and the different stages of the stress test foreseen through the remainder of the year.
Given the direct relevance of this process to the evidence base underpinning EU biodiversity policy, contributions to the consultation by biodiversity researchers, institutions and Horizon Europe biodiversity-related projects would enhance its scientific and knowledge-driven support.
Read more and thke part in the public consultation.