On 2 April 2009, efforts to conserve Europe’s threatened natural heritage received much-needed support from high-level decision makers in Brussels. On the occasion of a BirdLife International event celebrating the 30th anniversary of the EU Birds Directive, the Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Stavros Dimas expressed the need to strengthen efforts in halting the decline of species and habitats (biodiversity), building on existing nature legislation such as the Natura 2000 network of protected areas.

“It is […] self-evident that protecting birds needs effective international cooperation and it was therefore no coincidence that the Wild Birds Directive was the first piece of EU Environmental legislation dedicated to nature conservation”, the Commissioner stated at the event.

In a Commission press release Commissioner Dimas said on this occasion “The Birds Directive is one of the great success stories of EU environmental policy”. Referring to discussions on the EU’s post 2010 biodiversity policy he stressed: “The Birds Directive is as relevant today as it was 30 years ago and has a key role to play in delivering our biodiversity policy for many years to come”.

On behalf of the EU Presidency, Czech Deputy Environment Minister, Mr František Pelc, congratulated Europeans for 30 years of bird protection.