Commission’s assessment framework for evaluating national restoration plans.

Question for written answer E-001684/2026
to the Commission
Rule 144
Sander Smit (ECR)

The Agrifacts Foundation has reviewed the draft of the Dutch national restoration plan (NRP). The NRP provides for 450 000 to 850 000 hectares of additional habitat, aims for 40 % protected area and opts for result-based obligations, whereas the European Parliament explicitly opted for effort-based obligations[1] when adopting the Nature Restoration Regulation[2]. It extends the regime for habitat types to areas of the Dutch Nature Network (NNN) outside Natura 2000.

• 1.What criteria will the Commission apply in its assessment under Article 17(2) to determine whether a national restoration plan goes beyond what is necessary to achieve the objectives of Articles 4 to 13, and has the Commission established an assessment framework for this purpose which it is prepared to publish prior to the formal submission of national plans?
• 2.When assessing whether a national restoration plan is adequate, in accordance with Article 17(2)(b), is an assessment also made as to whether a plan goes beyond what is necessary to achieve the objectives, or is this assessment limited to the question of adequacy?
• 3.Does the Commission intend to publish its observations pursuant to Article 17(4) in full and in a timely manner, so that stakeholders and national parliaments may take note of the Commission's assessment before the Member States finalises their plans?

Submitted: 24.4.2026

• [1] Regulation (EU) 2024/1991.
• [2] https://stichtingagrifacts.nl/aanstaand-natuurplan-veel-meer-grond-nodig-voor-huisvesten-soorten/.