The European Commission has initiated proceedings at the Court of Justice against Germany and Romania for insufficient protection of biodiversity in meadows and for environmental pollution. After previous letters, opinions, and warnings, Brussels is now taking legal action.
Germany is already facing other judicial procedures at the Court due to negligence or violations of EU rules, including in the areas of fertilization, nitrogen use, and contamination of groundwater. In some cases, Berlin has already incurred multi-million euro fines.
In October 2020, the European Commission warned the German government about non-compliance with the Flora-Fauna-Habitat Directive: the number of extensive hay meadows decreased due to German negligence. To protect biological diversity in the EU, the Habitat Directive requires member states to ensure meadows are properly maintained.
Largely as a result of unsustainable agricultural practices, these habitat types have significantly decreased or completely disappeared in various protected locations over recent years, Brussels maintains.
The federal Ministry of the Environment (BMU) rejected the accusation at the end of 2020. According to the ministry, Brussels refers to incorrect or outdated data. The German nature conservation organization Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU) states that the European Commission mainly criticizes the lack of binding protective measures such as mowing or fertilization restrictions.
In its communication, the Commission refers to the European Green Deal and the EU biodiversity strategy. Flat hay meadows and mountain hay meadows are important habitats for pollinators and are protected by the Natura 2000 law. However, Germany did not ensure sufficient legal protection of the meadows.
The German nature conservation association NABU holds Germany responsible and criticizes intensive agricultural use, conversion of grassland to arable land, over-fertilization, and the use of pesticides. According to NABU, around 18,000 hectares of hay meadows have disappeared.
The new German coalition and the sixteen federal states are now urged to take nature conservation seriously and to provide sufficient financial resources. Farmers should be supported in the proper management and maintenance of the meadows. For consistent implementation, an action plan for protected areas must be drawn up.
Furthermore, the European Commission has decided to take Romania to the Court of Justice in two cases — for failing to tackle industrial pollution and air pollution. In addition, the European Commission calls on Malta, Poland, and Slovakia to comply with EU rules on the treatment of urban wastewater.