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Article 6 is one of the most important articles in the Habitats Directive as it defines how Natura 2000 sites are managed and protected.
Paragraphs 6(1) and 6(2) require that, within Natura 2000, Member States:
Avoid damaging activities that could significantly disturb these species or deteriorate the habitats of the protected species or habitat types.
Paragraphs 6(3) and 6(4) lay down the procedure to be followed when planning new developments that might affect a Natura 2000 site. Thus:
To help Member States implementation, the Commission developed the following documents related to article 6.1:
To assist in the understanding and correct application of this Article 6 procedure, the Commission has produced a number of general interpretative and methodological guidance documents on specific provisions of the Article:
Guidance document: Managing Natura 2000 sites
Assessment of plans and projects in relation to Natura 2000 sites
Methodological guidance on the provisions of Article 6 (3) and (4) of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC
Court rulings related to Article 6
A compilation of the most important rulings of the European Court of Justice related to Article 6 of the Habitats Directive is available here.
Article 6(4) Commission Opinions
The second subparagraph of Article 6(4) provides for a special treatment whenever the plan or project concerns a site hosting priority habitats and/or species. The realisation of plans or projects likely to adversely affect these sites can be justified only if the evoked imperative reasons of overriding public interest concern human health and public safety or overriding beneficial consequences for the environment, or if, before granting approval to the plan or project, the Commission expresses an opinion on the initiative envisaged.
The Commission is also in the process ofhas developed developing sector-specific guidance in the following several policy areas: non-energy extractive industries, wind farm development, ports and estuaries, inland waterway transport, aquaculture. The overall objective of these guidance documents is to establish a better understanding of how to apply the Article 6 procedure to developments plans and projects in each of these sectors and to provide further advice on how to carry out an Appropriate Assessment in particular.
Wind energy developments and EU Nature Legislation |
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Energy transmission facilities and EU nature legislation Summary |
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Hydropower and EU nature legislation Summary |
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Guidance document "Farming for Natura 2000" Annexes A - D with A) Key habitat types of Community interest that are dependent on agricultural management, B) Key species of Community interest associated with farmland, C) Main habitats of Community interest dependent on agriculture in each Member State and D) Management recommendations for each Annex I habitat type dependent on agricultural management |
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Guidance on Aquaculture and Natura 2000 - Sustainable aquaculture activities in the context of the Natura 2000 Network
Summary |
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Inland waterway transport and Natura 2000 - sustainable inland waterway development and management in the context of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Summary |
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The implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives in estuaries and coastal zones Summary For the policy context, see the Commission Staff Working Document: |
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Non-energy mineral extraction and Natura 2000 Summary Good practice examples: ![]() |
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Other Guidance | |
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all documents downloadable from this page are in pdf format