European Commissioner for Environment Jessika Roswall opened Green Week 2026 on 3 June with a speech arguing that healthy ecosystems are the foundation of resilient, competitive economies and essential to security. Speaking at the flagship conference in Brussels, she called for putting nature on corporate balance sheets and scaling up investment in ecosystem restoration, citing evidence that every euro invested in restoration generates between eight and thirty-eight euros in return.
Roswall highlighted the EU's Nature Restoration Law as a key legislative tool, noting that the Commission is currently helping Member States draft national plans adapted to local contexts. She also referenced the EU's target to spend ten percent of the budget on biodiversity by 2027, totaling well over 100 billion euros over seven years. The speech did not announce new legislative proposals but reinforced existing commitments and called for concrete action across investment decisions, national plans, and nature credit markets.
A new element was the launch of the Re: Invest in Nature matchmaking event, where seventy start-ups and entrepreneurs working on nature-tech and nature-based solutions met with investors. Roswall described this as a first for Green Week and the European Commission, emphasizing the link between nature and economic opportunity.
Roswall framed the discussion around three conclusions: businesses and economies need the natural world; there is no competitive economy on a dying planet; and investing in ecosystems is among the smartest economic decisions. She warned that extreme weather events cost the EU 43 billion euros last summer, projected to rise to 129 billion euros by 2029, and cited studies from the World Bank, IPBES, and the European Central Bank on nature's economic importance.
The speech did not address potential trade-offs or criticisms, such as the costs of restoration for businesses or farmers, or the administrative burden of new reporting requirements. It focused on the positive economic case for nature investment, positioning the EU as a leader in integrating environmental and economic policy.
Stakeholder impacts: EU producers and farmers could benefit from new revenue streams through nature credits and bioeconomy investments, but may face compliance costs from restoration obligations. EU consumers may see long-term benefits from improved ecosystem services and reduced climate risks, though short-term costs could arise from higher prices. EU regulatory bodies and national authorities will need to implement and monitor restoration plans, requiring administrative capacity. Investors and financial institutions gain new opportunities in nature-based solutions and green finance, but face uncertainty until certification frameworks are finalized.
Importance score: 65