Photo: © European Union, 2026, licensed under CC BY 4.0

During the European Parliament's October plenary session, Jessika Roswall, the EU Environment Commissioner, reaffirmed the European Commission’s commitment to the implementation of the Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR), highlighting the progress made since the legislation entered into force in August 2024.

The debate took place against the backdrop of growing discussions on the practical implementation of restoration measures and the preparation of national restoration plans by Member States.

In its intervention, the Commissioner underlined that the Regulation provides sufficient flexibility for Member States to take account of national, regional, and local circumstances when designing restoration measures. Restoration efforts are intended to strengthen ecosystem resilience, including protection against droughts, floods, wildfires, and other climate-related pressures, while supporting biodiversity recovery.

The Commissioner also recalled that Member States submitted their draft National Restoration Plans by 1 September 2026. These plans outline how countries intend to meet the Regulation's restoration targets up to 2030 and provide a longer-term perspective extending to 2040 and 2050. The Commission, supported by the European Environment Agency, is currently assessing the draft plans and will provide observations before final versions are adopted.

A key message from the Commissioner was the importance of stakeholder involvement throughout the implementation process. National authorities are encouraged to work closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure that restoration measures are both effective and practical on the ground.

The plenary debate that followed confirmed that implementation of the Nature Restoration Regulation will remain a prominent issue over the coming months as other Member States will be submitting their national plans and as discussions continue on how restoration objectives can be delivered alongside other environmental, agricultural and economic priorities.