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Commission refers Cyprus to EU Court over failure to protect Natura 2000 sites


The European Commission has decided to refer Cyprus to the Court of Justice of the European Union for not taking the necessary measures to protect and manage Natura 2000 sites, as part of an ongoing infringement procedure (INFR(2021)2064) regarding the country’s failure to comply with the Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC).

Under the Habitats Directive, Cyprus has formally designated 37 sites as Special Areas of Conservation but has yet to establish the necessary conservation measures for 28 of those sites.

Moreover, the conservation objectives for five sites were found to not be adequate, meaning that the species and habitats in these sites are not properly protected.

The European Commission had sent a letter of formal notice to Cyprus in June 2021, starting the infringement procedure. This was followed by a reasoned opinion in April 2022.

Despite some progress on the designation of Special Areas of Conservation, the Cypriot authorities have not fully addressed the grievances, the Commission notes
in Wednesday’s decision.

The Commission considers therefore that efforts by the Cypriot authorities have, to date, been insufficient and is referring Cyprus to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

The Habitats Directive requires the establishment of Natura 2000, an EU-wide network of protected natural areas made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for birds under the Birds Directive (Directive 2009/147/EC).

Each Member State is responsible for identifying and proposing sites that are important for the conservation of species and habitats occurring naturally in their territory. The Commission subsequently adopts them as Sites of Community Importance (SCIs).

Member States then have up to six years to designate them as SACs, and to introduce the necessary site-specific conservation objectives and measures to maintain or restore species and habitats.

The Commission has pursued infringement cases against 16 Member States on the designation of SACs, establis
hing conservation objectives and conservation measures.

Source: Cyprus News Agency