Press Release: Nature protection: Commission closes German habitats case, takes legal action against Finland over endangered bird species

The European Commission has decided to close an infringement case against Germany over protected nature sites to be part of the EU-wide Natura 2000 network. This decision follows the German authorities' latest proposal including a sufficient number of sites. At the same time, the Commission is starting legal action that could lead to a fine against Finland over its failure to fully implement a 2003 European Court of Justice judgement on the designation of protected areas under the EU Wild Birds Directive. Although Finland has designated a number of new protected areas since the judgement, it has not included an important area in the Åland archipelago, known as Nyhamn-Båtskär. This area is used as a wintering area by the Steller's Eider, a bird species which is under threat worldwide.