Press Release: State aids: Commission authorises transfer of nature protection areas in the new Laender of Germany

The European Commission on 26 April 2006 decided to authorise Germany to transfer the ownership of land for free for the development of sustainable nature protection areas. Only land in nature protection areas, national parks, and in biosphere reservations was to be eligible for this transfer. The new owners – the Laender or the environmental protection foundations and associations – must maintain and develop these areas permanently according to nature protection goals.