Brussels, 27/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - A reasoned opinion has been sent to Portugal for persistent infringement of EU law to protect nature, the Commission announced on Thursday 26 May.
The Commission says that Portugal has still not designated protected areas as it was required to do under the habitats directive (92/42/EEC). This is despite previous warning. This gap is a major threat to the coherence of the Natural 200 network.
The Commission urges Portugal to address this failing and to step up protection for indigenous habitats and species in line with the directive.
The habitats directive gave member states six years to designate protected areas under their national law and adopt the required measures for improving the status of habitats and species present on these sites.
Portugal was required to designate seven special areas of conservation (SACs) in the Atlantic region by 7 December 2010 and 54 SACs in the Mediterranean region by 19 July 2012. So far, none of these has been designated.
The Commission considers that this significant gap in compliance constitutes a major threat to the good functioning of the Natura 2000 network as a whole. Portugal now has two months to act. If it fails to do so, the case may be referred to the Court of Justice of the EU. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)