EU court ruling strengthens protection of Natura 2000 areas
The ruling states that environmental impact assessments for projects within Natura 2000 sites cannot be considered valid unless specific conservation objectives have been established beforehand for the protected area concerned.
Issued on July 16, the decision concerns cases C-27/25 and C-356/25, which involved preliminary questions submitted by Irish courts regarding wind farm projects located within Natura network areas.
According to the CJEU, national authorities cannot properly assess whether a project may significantly affect the integrity of a protected area without taking into account clearly defined conservation objectives specific to that site. Without such objectives, assessments may lack the necessary scientific accuracy and could allow projects that cause serious or irreversible environmental damage.
The ruling has particular importance for Greece, where many Natura 2000 sites still lack specific conservation objectives for protected habitats and species. Environmental organizations argue that this gap, combined with delays in establishing regulatory protection measures, has weakened the protection framework for some of the country's most valuable ecosystems.
The decision could affect the evaluation of major projects, including the LNG facility in the marine area of Thrace near Dedeağaç, hydrocarbon exploration plans, wind energy projects in Thrace, and tourism-related developments, which must now be assessed based on specific conservation targets for potentially affected species and habitats.
WWF Greece welcomed the ruling, stating that the protection of Natura 2000 areas is not merely a procedural requirement or political choice, but a binding legal obligation under European law.
WWF Greece Director Dimitris Karavellas said the ruling confirms that "without specialized conservation objectives, there can be no legal authorization of projects," calling on Greece to complete the establishment of conservation targets and strengthen protection measures for all Natura 2000 areas.
