Environment Council, 20 December 2022

Main results

EU environment ministers held a policy debate on a proposal for a nature restoration regulation.

The proposal aims to help recover European habitats, 80% of which are in poor condition. The proposal would set specific legally binding targets and obligations for nature restoration in each of the listed ecosystems - from forest and agricultural land to marine, freshwater and urban ecosystems. The measures proposed would cover at least 20 % of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030, and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.

Member states would have to put in place effective and area-based restoration measures in order to reach the ecosystem-specific targets and plan ahead by developing national restoration plans, in close cooperation with scientists, interested stakeholders and the public. The proposal would also define biodiversity indicators to measures progress.

Ministers took note of the progress report prepared by the presidency and held a policy debate, focussing on the issues of ambition and the non-deterioration principle.

• Presidency progress report
• Commission proposal on nature restoration law
• Biodiversity: how the EU protects nature (background information)
• European Green Deal (background information)

Under any other business the presidency informed ministers on the state of play of the work within the Council on the proposals on fluorinated gases, on substances that deplete the ozone layer, on industrial emissions and on waste shipments.

The Commission presented the zero-pollution package that includes proposals to revise legislation on air quality, on priority substances in surface and ground water and on urban wastewater treatment. The Commission also presented the circular economy package that includes proposals to revise the packaging and waste packaging legislation and a proposal for a new legislation on carbon removal certification, as well as a policy framework for bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics.

The presidency and the Commission updated ministers on the main recent international meetings.

The Commission informed ministers on the implementation of the biodiversity strategy. The presidency informed ministers on a workshop on light pollution.

The Netherlands provided information on the preparation for the UN water conference.

Sweden presented the work programme of its incoming presidency.

• Watch the morning public session
• Watch the afternoon public session