Call for strengthening the uptake of EU funds for Natura 2000
The European Commission has published a call for tenders for strengthening the uptake of EU funds for Natura 2000. Natura 2000 is the largest network of protected areas in the world, comprising more than 26,000 sites in all EU Member States. While the main responsibility for financing Natura 2000 lies with the Member States, Article 8 of the Habitats Directive explicitly links the delivery of necessary conservation measures for Natura 2000 to EU co-financing. A strengthened integrated approach using the various EU sectoral funds, ensuring their consistency with the priorities of the Natura 2000 action frameworks, together with an enhanced LIFE Biodiversity Strand, will provide a strong basis for the new Natura 2000 financing strategy. Under the current EU financial period (2007-2013), a number of opportunities have already been available to support management measures within Natura 2000 sites. However, recent studies indicate that, on the whole, the level of uptake by Member States has been limited. The objective of this call is to assist the Commission and the Member States in ensuring good understanding of funding opportunities for Natura 2000 under the next multiannual financial framework among all stakeholders, promoting investments in Natura 2000 as an element of sustainable growth and development and facilitating access to information about financing opportunities with a view to helping ensure better uptake of funds for Natura 2000.To see the official call announcement, please consult: OJ No S 84 of 3 May 2012(opens in new window)