1. Joseph van der Stegen DG Environement - Nature Unit
Financing Natura Policy framework and new opportunities for
Workshop for Belgium
Brussels, 11 December 2013
Joseph van der Stegen DG Environement - Nature Unit

2. EU biodiversity strategy to 2020 « Our life insurance, our natural capital »
A 2050 VISION
European Union biodiversity and the ecosystem services it provides – its natural capital – are protected, valued and appropriately restored…
A 2020 HEADLINE TARGET
Halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU and restore them insofar as feasible, and step up the EU's contribution to averting global biodiversity loss

3. New EU Biodiversity Strategy 2011 Target 1 - Nature conservation
To halt the deterioration in the status of all species and habitats covered by EU nature legislation and achieve a significant and measurable improvement in their status by 2020
Complete the establishment of the Natura 2000 network and ensure good management
Increase stakeholder awareness and involvement and improve enforcement
Improve and streamline monitoring and reporting
Ensure adequate financing of Natura 2000 sites

4. Introduction 1979: Birds Directive 1992: Habitats Directive
Scope → all species of naturally occurring birds in the wild in the EU.
Overall objective → to maintain wild birds in good conservation.
1992: Habitats Directive
Scope → More than 1000 threatened plants and animals and approx. 230 habitat types
Overall objective → ensure their favourable conservation status.

5. Natura 2000 Network 26 400 sites 986 000 km² 18 % EU land 4 % EU seas
Globally largest co-ordinated network of PAs;
Almost complete on land;
Marine component – still some gaps.

6. Financing Natura 2000: integration approach
Article 8 of the Habitats Directive (Prioritized Action Framework – PAF)
2004: Communication on Financing Natura 2000
2007: Handbook
2010: Conference - Financing Natura 2000
: Public consultation
May 2011: Roundtable
December 2011: Staff Working Document
2011: COM proposals EU funds
: negotiations Multiannual Financing Framework (MFF)
: next MFF
For details check:

7. Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020
March 2012: Europe 2020 strategy
June 2011: COM Proposals for sectoral funds:
structural and cohesion
rural development
maritime and fisheries
LIFE
2012: Position papers
Feb. 2013: Council agreement on EU budget
2nd half 2013: Partnership agreements
End 2013: Adoption regulations (funds)
2013/2014: Operational Programmes
: Implementation
For general info on MFF programming principles:
Position papers for all MS are available on

8. Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
EAFRD - 2nd pillar
Compensation payments (Art. 31)
Agri-environment-climate and forest-environment payments (Art. 29)
Direct payments - greening 1st pillar
For latest info on CAP reform check CAP fiche in \\net1\env\Public\ENV-Restricted\Dir-B\1.3.5 Contracts Management\ Procurement\SI _Financing Natura \Contract management\Deliverables\Workshops\Materials for the workshops
Art. 29 and 31 of the draft EAFRD Regulation are the most relevant for N2000 but there are other indirect opportunities; for details please check the draft Handbook in the same folder
Content of RDPs: "an appropriate approach towards the environment, including the specific needs of Natura 2000 areas"

9. Structural funds and the Cohesion Fund
Natura 2000 and Green Infrastructure to be financed from EU Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund
Rationale: eco-services, natural capital, economic development, regional cooperation, legal obligations
Multiple benefits (synergies with climate, SME, R&D, resource efficiency objectives)
Biodiversity and nature have to be integrated in the entire programme cycle
Projects
Indicators
Evaluation
SWOT
Priorities
Emphasize the possibility of financing Natura 2000 from the European Fund of Regional Development and the Cohesion Fund. Regions with GDP below 75% of have more flexibility and opportunities of using these funds for Natura Other regions are subject to concentration of funds for other priorities (climate, SMEs., R&D) but they still might allocate money to N2000 if they justify it appropriately. For details please see the draft Handbook and the DG REGIO guide on Multi Benefits.

10. European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)
Sustainable and resource efficient fisheries and aquaculture
Biodiversity and ecosystems inlc. N2000
Aquaculture methods compatible with N2000
Recognition of the link with the PAFs and Operational Programs (OPs) required to show "appropriate approach" to environment including Natura 2000
For more info on EMFF reform there's a fiche in \\net1\env\Public\ENV-Restricted\Dir-B\1.3.5 Contracts Management\ Procurement\SI _Financing Natura \Contract management\Deliverables\Workshops\Materials for the workshops

11. LIFE Programme for the Environment and Climate Action
LIFE as a catalyst;
New structure: sub programmes for the Environment and Climate Action;
Budget: €3.6 billion with 75% for ENV and 25% for Climate;
New concept: integrated projects;
More coordination with other funds;
Multiannual work programmes;
National allocations to be phased out;
Co-financing rates: nature and biodiversity 60%, priority habitats and species a 75%.
For more info on LIFE reform there's a fiche in \\net1\env\Public\ENV-Restricted\Dir-B\1.3.5 Contracts Management\ Procurement\SI _Financing Natura \Contract management\Deliverables\Workshops\Materials for the workshops

12. PAFs and integrated projects
Implementation of plans, programmes or strategies required by EU environmental or climate legislation;
Larger scale, e.g., regional, multiregional, national;
Primarily in the areas of nature, water, waste, air, climate mitigation and adaptation;
They are inclusive: stakeholders must be involved as associated beneficiaries;
Sustainability will be important as well as mobilisation of other funds (EU or other);

13. Innovative financing instruments
Payments for ecosystem services;
Habitat banking;
Pro-biodiversity businesses (biomass, certified food products);
Low/Zero rate loans;
Tax incentives;
Carbon credits;
User fees;
Sponsorship, charities.
Emphasize that innovative financing instruments might be used to bridge the financing gap, which is not covered by EU or national funding. In the draft Handbook there examples of projects financed with innovative instruments.

14. Prioritised Action Frameworks (PAF)
PAFs objectives:
Strategic planning;
Identification of priorities;
Improve awareness about socio-economic benefits from Natura 2000;
Identify and assess forms of funding for Natura 2000.
Provide a general info on PAF objectives and then discuss the national PAF.

15. Prioritised Action Framework
Flemish Region's PAF dated May 2013
Main objectives:
Halt and prevent deterioration of the present conservation status
Reach favourable conservation status or improve status by 2020 for 16 habitats
Reach favourable conservation status for all habitats by 2050
Reach favourable conservation status or improve status by 2020 for protected species
Reach favourable conservation status for all species by 2050.
Regional nature conservation objectives outside Natura 2000
The strategic management plan Natura 2000
Regional priority action on eutrophying and acidiphying depositions
Defining ecological thresholds to mitigate local environmental pressures
Main measures: see dedicated presentation
Provide a general info on PAF objectives and then discuss the national PAF.

16. Prioritised Action Framework
Walloon Region's PAF dated 31/01/2013
to be completed (D: current experience with use of EU financial instruments, G: Key measures to achieve priorities) Main priorities and sources of funding identified
6 Main objectives:
Increasing the area of habitats of CI and habitats of species of CI
Improving structures and functions
Recurrent management of habitats and species
Monitoring
Awareness-traising
Co-ordination and Updating the PAF
Main objectives: Special focus on: swampy soils, hay meadows, calcareous meadows, bog areas, Black grouse, species of Annex II buterflies, Pearl Mussel
Provide a general info on PAF objectives and then discuss the national PAF.

17. PAF: follow-up with EC services
B.3 Nature
D.1 Cohesion Policy
DG REGIO
ERDF CF
B.1 Agricultural Policy
DG AGRI
EAFRD
C.2 Marine Policy
DG MARE
EMFF
E.3 LIFE Nature
DG ENV

18. Partnership Agreements Operational Programmes
PAF: follow-up with MS
Position Papers
Sent to all the MS
Natura 2000 and PAFs (mostly) recognised
Partnership Agreements
DG REGIO in the lead
Negotiations on-going
Operational Programmes
For all the CSF funds
Ideally, reference to the PAF

19. Next steps: opportunities and challenges
Partnership Agreement;
Operational Programmes;
Consider nature/biodiversity for the whole programme cycle;
Implementation; learn from the experience;
Be smart, look for multiple benefits;
Think out of the box – consider innovative financing instruments.

20. Additional information
Indicate that there are publications which can help the MS with programming of funds for Natura 2000.

21. For more information, please consult:
Contact:
(Walloon and Brussels Regions)
(Flemish Region)
For more information, please consult: 21 21