Birds Directive reporting

Article 12 – The State of Nature in the EU - reporting on status and trends of bird species

Article 12 deals with the general reporting obligations of the Member States and Commission.
Member States must forward to the Commission every six years a report on the implementation of the measures taken under this Directive and the main impacts of these measures. That report includes in particular information concerning the status and trends of wild bird species protected by this Directive, the threats and pressures on them, the conservation measures taken for them and the contribution of the network of Special Protection Areas to the objectives laid out in Article 2 of this Directive.

Since 2015 this progress reporting under the Birds Directive is streamlined with the Habitats Directive and integrated in the State of Nature report. The composite “State of Nature in the EU” report is prepared and published every six years, with the help of the European Environment Agency.

Reporting period 2013-2018

Available products:

Explore the State of Nature data!

Look up the conservation status (and much more) of birds

Reporting period 2008-2012

The first national reports about status and trends of birds in the EU were assessed in the course of 2014 on EU-level, results were summarised and analysed. A range of products are now available for consultation

The Reporting Format and guidelines as well as other useful information on the Reporting period 2008 to 2012 can be found on the Reference Portal for Art.12 reporting:

Reference Portal for Article 12 of the Birds Directive

Reporting period 2005-2007

Report from the Commission on the implementation of Directive 2009/147/EC on the conservation of wild birds: Update for 2005-2007

Article 9 reporting (derogations)

A limited number of activities normally prohibited under the Birds Directive (Articles 5-8) are permissible by way of such derogations, where particular problems or situations exist or may arise. The possibilities for use of these derogations are constrained. They must be justified in relation to the overall objectives of the Directive and comply with the specific conditions for derogations described in Article 9. Member States do not need to consult the Commission before applying derogations but are obliged to report all derogations to the European Commission in annual derogation reports.

Composite European Commission Report on Derogations according to article 9 of Directive 2009/147/EC on the Conservation of Wild Birds