In January 2025, the European Commission released a draft implementing regulation outlining the uniform format to be used by Member States when submitting National Restoration Plans (NRPs) under Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 on nature restoration. The proposal, developed with the support of the European Environment Agency, provides a standardized structure for planning, reporting, and evaluating ecological restoration measures through to 2050.
The format is designed for compliance with the regulation’s requirements, particularly Articles 4 through 13, which set out legally binding restoration targets for terrestrial, freshwater, marine, and urban ecosystems. According to the draft, Member States must submit their initial restoration plans by 1 September 2026. These plans must specify restoration measures, timelines, spatial data, and monitoring procedures.
The document divides the reporting framework into several components. Part A addresses cross-cutting aspects such as the planning process, stakeholder engagement, and overall contributions to EU environmental objectives. Part B focuses on article-specific obligations, requiring Member States to report on ecosystem-specific targets, including habitat condition assessments, surface area to be restored, and progress indicators. Part C details the restoration measures themselves, linking each intervention to corresponding targets.
Approximately 10% of the reporting fields are marked for pre-filling using existing EU datasets, including those derived from the Habitats and Birds Directives, the Water Framework Directive, and Copernicus satellite data. This is intended to minimize duplication and reduce administrative burden. Roughly 46% of the fields are optional, allowing countries to provide contextual information such as regional socio-economic characteristics or implementation challenges.
The template also includes sections on public participation, financial planning, and policy integration. Member States are required to outline expected costs, identify funding sources (public and private), and describe the potential socio-economic impacts of their restoration plans. Fields are also included for reporting subsidies that may negatively affect restoration goals, such as environmentally harmful agricultural or energy subsidies.
The Commission’s proposed format includes mechanisms for tracking restoration outcomes over time. These include baseline data, spatial mapping requirements, and procedures for monitoring ecosystem conditions. The regulation requires continuous reporting on the effectiveness of restoration measures and includes provisions to ensure long-term maintenance of restored areas.
Post-2032 planning may adopt a more strategic overview approach, in accordance with Article 15(2) of the Regulation. This allows Member States to summarize expected outcomes and long-term trends, while deferring specific restoration actions to future plan revisions. The draft format reflects this by including optional fields for 2040 and 2050 targets.
Submission of the plans will be fully digital. The format is designed to integrate with EU-level systems such as the EEA’s Reportnet platform, enabling streamlined data sharing and facilitating centralized assessment under Articles 17 and 19 of the Regulation.
The draft regulation is currently under review by the Nature Restoration Regulation Committee. Once adopted, it will become directly applicable in all EU Member States.
