Answer to a written question – Possible circumvention of Directive 92/43/EEC and state of scientific research on the harmful effects of offshore wind farms, of which the Commission is aware – E-000582/2025(ASW)

The Commission has received several complaints regarding the allegedly wrong application of EU environmental law regarding offshore wind farms, including those being developed in France.

Upon examination and for the moment, the Commission has not identified any problem that would justify further investigation. The Commission also notes that complainants in France have sometimes referred such matters to administrative courts to challenge development permits, including environmental authorisations.

For the reasons outlined above, the Commission has not requested any information from the French authorities about possible environmental damage to wild flora and fauna caused by offshore wind farms in French marine waters.

The EU is supporting research to further understand and mitigate the environmental impacts of offshore wind farms, notably through its recent Horizon Europe call for proposals for ‘Minimisation of environmental, and optimisation of socioeconomic impacts in the deployment, operation and decommissioning of offshore wind farms’[1].

It is expected that the findings of this research will further enhance knowledge on the impacts of offshore wind farms on biodiversity and help minimise those, among other environmental impacts.

• [1] https://projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/en/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/restore-our-ocean-and-waters/minimisation-environmental-and-optimisation-socioeconomic-impacts-deployment-operation-and