The fate of the habitats and the birds directives, which form the pillars of EU legislation on protecting nature, is likely to be determined on Wednesday 7 December, almost a year late according to the initial timetable.
For the European Commission, the decision is whether to revise the directives, in light of “better regulation” as it would seem to be planning, or leaving them as they stand, as European environment ministers, the European Parliament, environmental NGO and citizens, keen...