1. CGBN
Co-ordination Group
for Biodiversity and Nature
15th meeting – 19/09/13 (all day) & 20/09/13 (morning
Agenda item 2.1 Progress on Target 1 Developments since CGBN of 21st March 2013

2. Action 1: Completion of the Network (1) Site Designations
New Union Lists of SCIs for all 9 Biogeographic Regions to be adopted by Habitats Committee on 4 October 2013
New designations of e.g. in SI (bilateral seminar planned in spring 2014)
Pilots or new infringements for remaining insufficiencies launched
SAC designation: PILOTs sent to 13 MS, feedback under assessment
SPA designation in marine to be discussed at next Ornis Committee

3. Action 1: Completion of the Network (2) Management
Natura 2000 Seminars
Communications platform now online and operational
Current Schedule:
BioGeo region
Prep workshop
Seminar
Boreal
25/26 Jan 2012
28/29 May 2012
Atlantic
20/21 June 2012
3/5 Dec 2012
Alpine
12/14 June 2013
25/26 Nov 2013
Med (without Mac)
(no LC yet)
Spring 2014 ??
Autumn 2014 ??
Cont/Pann/Step/ Black Sea
Autumn 2014
Spring 2015
Marine
? 1st discussion with Marine Exp group 7/11 ?

4. Action 1: Completion of the Network (3) Management - continued
Expert Group on Natura 2000 management
10th meeting of the expert group: 23 October 2013
Main issues:
New biogeographical process - Up-date and way forward
Progress on designation of SACs
New Art 6 guidance
Progress on financing Natura 2000, including on 'Prioritised Action Frameworks'
Progress on Natura 2000 & Forests Guidance (Info)

5. Action 1: Completion of the Network (4) Management –marine issues
Marine Expert Group - next meeting 7 November 2013
Main topics:
- Marine Natura 2000 designations (State of play)
- Marine Protected Areas under the MSFD (State of play)
- Management guidelines for marine Natura 2000 (Discussion)
- Sensitivity analysis for marine habitats/species in relation to fisheries (Discussion)
- CFP reform – new EMFF (State of play - implications)
- Applying Art. 6 of Habitats Directive to fisheries (Discussion)
- new biogeographic process

6. Action 2: Financing of Natura 2000
PAFs received from 22 MS (shared with other DGs)
MFF legislation negotiations close to be finalised
Internal Discussion in Commission re. Partnership Agreements and OPs (other DGs want to know the priorities) + dialogue with MS
Dedicated workshop on LIFE-PAF projects to take place on 5 November in Brussels
Handbook on Financing Natura 2000, and toolkit for PAF-OP consistency evaluation close to be finalised, to be presented and discussed at financing Natura workshops in 27 MS

8. Action 3: Stakeholder awareness & involvement and enforcement
Guidance docs
Guidance on Climate Change and Natura & Guidance on Wilderness and Natura – completed and posted on the web
Art 6 guidance doc update: discussion at management WG 23/10, approval at Hab Com spring 2014
Guidance on Natura 2000 and farmland: approved at last Habitats Committee, will be finalised following final adoption of CAP reform
Guidance on Forestry and Natura 2000: Second workshop held on 23 May First meetings of working group on 14 October and 17 December First draft outline of guidance document available
Guidance on Hydropower and Natura 2000: See agenda item 2.3
Guidance on Natura 2000 and energy transmission infrastructure: Consultation with MS just finished
Study on permitting procedures: See agenda item 2.2

9. Action 3: Stakeholder awareness & involvement and enforcement
Implementation
Two projects ongoing in IMPEL - illegal killing of birds - nature conservation – Article 6.3/6.4? Conference in Malta on 1-4/10/2013
Commission staff working paper SWD(2013) 401 final of on 'Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme (REFIT): Initial Results of the Mapping of the Acquis' states: The implementation of the EU Habitats and Birds Directives will be evaluated, based on reports to be submitted by the Member States in The evaluation will cover the contribution of this legislation to the achievement of targets and commitments at the EU (e.g. the EU Biodiversity Strategy) and international (e.g. under the Convention on Biological Diversity) level.

10. Action 3: Stakeholder awareness & involvement and enforcement
Species protection
Large Carnivores:
"LIFE and human coexistence with large carnivores"
publication in June 2013
4 species action plans with the population-level approach under preparation, to be 1st consulted with stakeholders on 5th Dec. before going to the Habitats Committee
Elements of an EU Platform on Large Carnivores to be launched in to be also discussed
4 pilot actions on different LC species in different EU trans-boundary regions in preparation
Enhanced communication and awareness-raising activities ( DG ENV website, Nature in Europe blog etc., articles in the press)
Species action plan on bats started

11. Action 3: Stakeholder awareness & involvement and enforcement
Energy infrastructure:
Guidance on N2000 & electricity/gas/oil transmission infrastrucure – to be discussed at next Hab Com, followed by ISC and adoption
Guidance on Streamlining environmental assessment procedures for energy infrastructure Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) published
First Commission Regulation adopting list of PCIs as delegated act to Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure to be adopted soon.

12. Action 3: Stakeholder awareness & involvement and enforcement Public Awareness
Natura 2000 Awards: Contract signed
Objectives:
Raise awareness about Natura 2000 among the public
Recognise excellence in the promotion of Natura 2000
Recognise excellence in the management of Natura 2000 sites
Encourage networking between Natura 2000 stakeholders
Provide role models to inspire and promote best practice
First call for applications: Dec 2013/Jan 2014
Awards: May/June 2014.

13. Action 3: Stakeholder awareness & involvement and enforcement Public Awareness
Natura 2000 Newsletter N° 34
Natura 2000 in Croatia
Large Carnivores Initiative
Green Infrastructure
Economic Benefits of Natura 2000
factsheet Building on the Synthesis Report
Facebook page Nature in Europe

14. Action 4: Reporting nature directives
Article 17 HD and Article 12 BD reports
Most Art 17 MS reports received …
received
MS Can start uploading data for Art 12 in October, Deadline 31/12/2013
Discussions on measuring progress towards target 1

15. Agenda for next Habitats Committee meeting (3/10/2013)
Adoption of SCI union lists
Measuring progress towards target 1
Guidance on Natura 2000 and energy transmission infrastructure
Financing Natura 2000
SAC designation
New Biogeographical Process
Reporting under Art.17
Natura 2000 dataflow – Standard Data Forms
Derogation Reporting
Large carnivore Initiative
Multi-species action plan for bats

16. Agenda for next Ornis Committee meeting (4/10/2013)
Designation of SPAs (esp. marine)
CAP reform and Birds Directive
Illegal Killing, trapping and trade of Birds, Roadmap implementation
Evaluation of implementation of 13 Management Plans for huntable bird species in unfarourable status
EU Action plan on seabirds
CMS raptor strategy
Article 9 and 12 reporting
Species Action Plan on Aquila Clanga