MEP Wouter Beke (PPE) has asked the European Commission whether it recognises that national restoration plans under the Nature Restoration Regulation could have significant implications for permit granting, businesses, and investment, and whether it is prepared to consider postponing the submission deadline of 1 September 2026. The written question, submitted on 9 July 2026, highlights concerns over insufficient clarity on funding for the required measures, which would come on top of existing instruments such as the Common Agricultural Policy. Beke also points to ongoing simplification processes in EU environmental policy, including the stress test under the Birds and Habitats Directives, and stresses that legal certainty for Member States, citizens, and businesses is essential given that the Nature Restoration Regulation builds on the Habitats Directive.
The question reflects a push from the centre-right to delay implementation of the regulation, citing potential administrative and economic burdens. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will signal whether it is open to extending the deadline or maintaining the current timeline. The regulation, adopted in 2024, requires Member States to submit draft national restoration plans by 1 September 2026, with binding targets to restore at least 20% of the EU's land and sea areas by 2030. Beke's intervention adds to ongoing debates about balancing environmental ambitions with economic competitiveness and regulatory simplification.