Saxony's Environment Minister Georg-Ludwig von Breitenbuch considers the EU's so-called Restoration Regulation to be far too bureaucratic. "At its core, we can understand the concerns of the EU regulation: We all want a liveable and healthy natural environment. But it's like driving in the dark," the minister expressed his doubts after the cabinet meeting in Dresden. Neither the direction nor the concrete goal of the regulation or the path to it could be seen. But something like this must be made feasible.
Renaturalization on at least 20 percent of the area
The regulation has been in force since August 2024 and is binding for all EU member states. Its aim is to implement measures to restore nature on at least 20 percent of the European Union's land and sea areas by 2030 and to cover all ecosystems in deficit by 2050.
For example, around 30 percent of former peatlands that are now used for agriculture are to be rewetted and thus converted into peatlands.
"We are committed to reducing bureaucracy and streamlining procedures everywhere. The restoration ordinance, however, is the opposite," emphasized the minister and identified three key challenges in its implementation: time, money and acceptance.
The ambitious timetable is unlikely to be met given the level of detail in the regulations. The costs would mean an extreme effort, and many areas could only be processed with the acceptance of their private owners: "This is not affordable."
Saxony calls for improvements to the regulation
According to the minister, Saxony wants to hold the EU to account and set one or two "stop signs" on the road to implementation. Solid preparations will be made and the fog will be cleared with the help of an interministerial working group. The regulation must be reconsidered by the EU and made manageable. Saxony has already sent a clear signal that the regulation should be withdrawn in this form.
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