Subject: Proposal to amend EU legislation on the Natura 2000 network due to the disproportionate burden on Slovenia
Dear Government of the Republic of Slovenia,
In line with the national interest in the development of rural areas, agriculture, forestry, and spatial planning, I am submitting a proposal that the Government of the Republic of Slovenia initiate a formal request—within the Council of the European Union and other relevant EU institutions—for an amendment to the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and the Birds Directive (2009/147/EC).
Background:
- Slovenia has more than 37% of its national territory designated as part of the Natura 2000 network—the highest proportion among all EU member states (excluding a few small island nations).
- Such a large extent of restrictions exceeds a reasonable and proportionate scope of nature protection and seriously hinders development and land use across a significant portion of the country.
- Comparative analysis shows that countries such as Germany (15.4%), France (12.9%), the Netherlands (13.3%), and Denmark (8.4%) bear a much lower burden, even though they also fulfill the obligations under the same directives.
- While the directives do not define a fixed percentage of land to be included in Natura 2000, and rely on scientific criteria, it is clear that some countries—particularly those joining the EU in the 2000s—underwent excessive and indiscriminate designation.
Proposed actions:
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The Government of Slovenia should propose amendments to the aforementioned directives, with the aim of:
- introducing a recommended upper limit for Natura 2000 coverage (e.g., 15% of national territory),
- allowing the phased removal or adjustment of sites that no longer serve conservation goals,
- enabling more flexible management of areas exceeding that threshold.
- The government should initiate diplomatic dialogue with other similarly affected member states—such as Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Bulgaria—with the goal of forming a coalition for reform of EU conservation legislation.
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If such reforms are rejected, the government should:
- conduct a systematic review of all existing Natura 2000 sites in Slovenia,
- identify areas that no longer meet scientific criteria,
- and initiate the formal delisting process through the European Commission.
Conclusion:
Slovenia should no longer remain trapped by its own overly strict interpretation of European law. Nature protection is essential, but it must be based on the principles of proportionality, fair burden-sharing, and real-world effectiveness.
I therefore call on the Government of the Republic of Slovenia to safeguard the public interest, balance conservation objectives with spatial development needs, and begin the process of fair and necessary reform of European nature legislation.
Sincerely,
Tomaz Stih.
