In a written answer on 17 July 2026, Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall reaffirmed the European Commission's commitment to biodiversity protection under the Birds and Habitats Directives and the Natura 2000 network, while confirming an ongoing stress test of the directives. The response, addressed to Green MEP Pär Holmgren, sought to counter claims that nature conservation and competitiveness are incompatible, a position the Commissioner has previously emphasised.
The answer was prompted by Holmgren's concerns over exploration permits in Swedish Natura 2000 sites such as Jänsmässholmen, Lake Näkten and Hårkan, which he argued threaten conservation objectives. Roswall outlined that any plan or project likely to significantly affect a Natura 2000 site must undergo an appropriate assessment under Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive, with exceptions only under Article 6(4). She also highlighted the Nature Restoration Regulation, adopted in July 2024, which sets legally binding restoration targets.
Crucially, the Commissioner confirmed that the Commission is currently carrying out a stress test of the Birds and Habitats Directives as part of a wider simplification initiative. The test aims to evaluate whether the directives remain fit for purpose in a cost-efficient way while maintaining their ambition and high conservation standards. Results are expected by the end of 2026 and will determine any follow-up. The answer did not commit to maintaining the current scope of Natura 2000 or the directives unchanged, leaving open the possibility of future adjustments based on the stress test outcomes.
The Commission is balancing biodiversity protection with simplification pressures, resisting calls for an overhaul but subjecting the directives to a performance review. Stakeholders impacted include environmental NGOs and conservationists, who may view the stress test as a risk of deregulation; EU member states, which must implement the directives and restoration targets; and developers and industry groups, who seek clearer, less burdensome permitting processes. The institutional follow-up hinges on the stress test results due by end 2026, which could lead to legislative proposals or guidance adjustments.