EUROPARC’s Policy Work
EUROPARC Federation represents the interest and ambitions of Protected Areas at different European political and technical levels. EUROPARC advocates and raises awareness for Protected Areas, to support policy development, to contribute to policy implementation across Europe, bridging policy and practice for the benefit of nature and people.
EUROPARC develops and shares policy recommendations with its members. The EUROPARC Policy Advisory Group (PAG) is of vital importance for this work.
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Key messages of EUROPARC’s policy work
- Protected Areas are key drivers for the delivery and implementation of European strategies and policies for nature conservation and biodiversity.
- Protected areas are living laboratories that contribute to sustainable development in Europe, by delivering ecosystem services and promoting sustainable activities in their territories and coexistence between nature and humans.
- Effective management of all PAs is essential.
- Investing in Protected Areas pays back and supports alternative economy models with benefits and positive experiences that can be replicated outside of protected area borders.
- Protected areas provide green jobs and contribute to healthy and resilient communities.
- It is crucial to ensure concrete and coherent integration of biodiversity and climate change priorities in EU policies. Protected Areas should be involved in spatial planning and climate change adaptation strategies at multiple levels of governance to ensure and promote integrated, long-term and large-scale environmental management.
- Young people empowerment is essential for the future of protected areas.
- Nature conservation and sustainable farming should be allied: good and healthy food needs healthy environment. Sustainable farming can help protect natural resources and maintain healthy habitats.
- Nature conservation and sustainable fishing should be allied: good and healthy food needs healthy environment.
- Sustainable tourism is part of the local rural development.
- Europe’s protected areas can contribute to key policy priorities on improving public health and well-being for all and reducing health inequalities.
EUROPARC Policy and Position Papers
EUROPARC has advocated for the recognition of the role of Protected Areas for many years. To strengthen our position, EUROPARC has created various policy and position papers. You can find all of EUROPARC’s policy and position papers here.
Dialogue with European Institutions
To achieve its policy priorities, EUROPARC fosters and maintains fruitful connections with representatives and units of the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the European Committee of the Regions that are relevant for the Protected Areas’ work in the European Union.
EUROPARC also works closely with the Council of Europe.
On this webpage, you find the most important EU institutions that EUROPARC works with and whose work EUROPARC keeps track of in representation of Protected Areas as well as information about our work with the Council of Europe.
Seminar Dialogue with European Commission
One of the most important policy events yearly is the Seminar Dialogue that is organised with the European Commission, often with the Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV).
By bringing together representatives of the European Commission and Protected Area professionals, EUROPARC aims to spotlight the contribution of Protected Areas to the achievement of European policy goals, whilst giving the European Commission a clear insight into the work done and challenges faced by professionals in the field.
Please find the Seminar Dialogues here!
European Cooperation Platforms
EUROPARC Federation maintains close partnerships with several organisations that have similar or complementary objectives regarding policy development and implementation. These coalitions facilitate the policy monitoring process by sharing information and discussing current topics.
You can find more information here.