Written question – Birds Directive and the safeguarding of nesting sites – E-002011/2025

Question for written answer  E-002011/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Dario Tamburrano (The Left), Cristina Guarda (Verts/ALE), Anja Hazekamp (The Left), Sebastian Everding (The Left), Danilo Della Valle (The Left), Carolina Morace (The Left)

The Birds Directive[1] prohibits, with very limited exceptions, the deliberate destruction or damage of nests and eggs, as well as the removal of nests.

Felling a tree or cutting a branch hosting a nest inevitably results in the destruction of the nest and any eggs it may contain, and, by their nature, such actions are deliberate. Can the Commission therefore clarify the following:

• 1.Does the prohibition established by the Birds Directive imply that, in areas frequented by bird species, the felling and pruning of trees or shrubs should be avoided during the breeding season? In most cases, nests are not visible from the ground, making it impossible to selectively preserve the specific vegetation in which they are located.
• 2.Does the same principle apply to the disturbance or alteration of nesting habitats such as cavities, crevices, shelters (including those of anthropogenic origin), sandy formations, meadows, and pastures used by certain species for nesting?
• 3.Does the Commission consider it appropriate to encourage Member States to ensure the protection of green spaces – both urban and non-urban – located outside Natura 2000 sites, but regularly frequented by species listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive?

Submitted: 20.5.2025

• [1] Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds (OJ L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2009/147/oj).