Expanding Natura 2000 network

Natura 2000 is an ecological network on protected areas, based on the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive of the European Union.



Among the summaries of EU legislation, the European Commission offers some background about conservation on the page Natural habitats (Natura 2000) (latest update 1 August 2008).

The latest development is a package of extensions of conservation areas.


The Official Journal of the European Union L 30 published 2 February 2010 is a hefty issue of 566 pages, dedicated to the 22 December 2009 decisions by the European Commission on updated and expanded lists of Natura 2000 sites, in the following biogeographical regions (OJEU 2.2.2010 L 30/1):

• Alpine
• Atlantic
• Continental
• Mediterranean
• Boreal


The consolidated version of the Habitats Directive 92/43 is of 1 January 2007, officially:

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora




Biodiversity is on the agenda of the Commission, which has published a Communication: What next for biodiversity protection in the EU? (19 January 2010; IP/10/32).




Ralf Grahn







P.S. Cross-border communication is a necessity in the European Union and beyond, with scrutiny by active citizens. At the same time Euroblogs are an agreeable way to brush up one’s skills in foreign languages.

European Union Law in English and its sister blog in Bulgarian are written by the lawyer Vihar Georgiev, who serves his readers with quick updates on new legal acts, decisions and other developments in EU law.

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