In a written answer to MEP Isabel Serra Sánchez (The Left), Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall stated that the EU Nature Restoration Regulation sets national-level targets for urban green and tree cover but does not address individual planning cases such as the reopening of a sepiolite mine at Lagunas de Ambroz in Madrid. The Commissioner noted that while the site is not part of the Natura 2000 network, the sand martin colony present there is protected under the Birds Directive, which prohibits deliberate destruction of nests and disturbance during breeding. However, she stressed that Member States are primarily responsible for ensuring compliance with EU law, and that the most appropriate mechanism for concerned citizens is to use available national remedies, including seeking compensation for damages. The Commission has issued guidance on Article 5 of the Birds Directive covering extractive activities and preventive measures, but it did not announce any immediate request for information from Spanish authorities, instead referring to its enforcement policy focused on systemic issues of non-compliance. The answer offers no concrete EU intervention, leaving the matter to national courts and administrative bodies.
Source✉ Open answer ↗
Asked byIsabel Serra Sánchez (The Left)