The EU Restoration Regulation, which entered into force in August 2024, requires all member states to restore damaged ecosystems such as forests, peatlands, rivers, and seas in order to halt the decline in biodiversity and combat climate change. To this end, measures are to be implemented in all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. Accordingly, measures must be taken for the gradual re-naturalisation of water-dependent habitat types in poor condition, and at least 25,000 km of rivers must be restored to a free-flowing state. It remains to be seen whether this will also have positive effects on the implementation process of the EU Water Framework Directive. the water management sector can certainly use a tailwind!
The central element of the regulation is the national recovery plan, which outlines the specific measures by which each Member State intends to achieve the objectives of the regulation. A corresponding draft must be submitted to the EU Commission by each Member State by September 2026. Germany has now submitted a draft, to which objections can be raised until 25.06.2026 here can be taken into account.
The AGW will thoroughly review the draft and contribute with a statement.
Further information: