Nature restoration obligations based on a non-verifiable national methodology

Question for written answer E-001683/2026
to the Commission
Rule 144
Sander Smit (ECR)

At the end of 2025, the Netherlands submitted its report under Article 17 covering the period 2019-2024, which shows that 28 of the 52 habitat types in the Netherlands are deteriorating. The Agrifacts Foundation has reported that the Dutch methodology differs from that of other Member States, partly because approximately 1 000 typical species are used for the 52 habitat types, including rare species and species not yet found in the Netherlands[1]. The underlying measurement data and the assessment criteria for the 2019-2024 cycle were not publicly available at the time of submission, meaning that the report cannot be independently verified.

• 1.Does the Commission regard restoration obligations under Article 14(8) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1991, which arise from a national methodology that goes beyond the minimum requirements of Directive 92/43/EEC, as obligations under EU law or as national policy choices?
• 2.Does the Commission consider the limited public access to measurement data and methodology to be compatible with Directive 2003/4/EC on public access to environmental information and with Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001?
• 3.How does the lack of a direct legal remedy for stakeholders against methodological choices made by local authorities relate to the principle of effective legal protection as referred to in Article 9(3) of the Aarhus Convention and Article 47 of the EU Charter?

Submitted: 24.4.2026

• [1] https://stichtingagrifacts.nl/nederlandse-natuur-fors-verslechterd-onderbouwing-niet-beschikbaar/.