European Commission understands member states, including Belgium, that missed nature-restoration deadline

The European Commission says it understands why about 20 member states, including Belgium, missed the September 1 deadline to submit preliminary national plans under the EU Nature Restoration Law.

A Commission spokeswoman described the process as collaborative from the beginning and acknowledged that member states had been given a complex task. She said more countries were expected to submit plans in the coming days. The Commission can launch infringement procedures when deadlines are missed, but stressed that starting such a procedure is not its goal.

Belgium has yet to submit a plan for actively restoring vulnerable nature. The office of federal Climate and Ecological Transition Minister Jean-Luc Crucke said the delay resulted from fragmented responsibilities and that authorities were still waiting for Wallonia and Brussels.

“

It has been a collaborative exercise from the beginning, and we recognize that we are asking member states to undertake a complex effort.

Environmental groups and the Flemish coalition party Vooruit have also criticized the Flemish plan as inadequate. The Commission urged member states to make genuine efforts on their draft versions so it could provide feedback on time, while emphasizing that supporting countries through the process is part of its role.

Approved in 2024, the Nature Restoration Law forms part of the European Green Deal. It seeks to slow the decline of Europe’s natural environment and restore it, with recovery measures required by 2030 in at least 30% of European land and sea areas considered to be in poor condition.

“

We encourage member states to make genuine efforts on their draft versions so that we can provide feedback on time.