On 30 September 2026, the Council set its position on the Commission’s proposal for a regulation on speeding up environmental assessments, presented in December 2025. The proposal is part of the “Omnibus VIII” simplification package. It aims to introduce simplified and accelerated procedures, including single points of contact, digitalisation and streamlined timelines, while maintaining the EU’s standards on environmental protection.
For forest owners, the most relevant provisions of the Council’s negotiating mandate are is Article 8 on protected species. The Council position is moving the file in the right direction to adress the specific nature of forestry; as it calls for the regulation to apply to plans, projects, fire prevention works, forestry management works and recurring maintenance activities for infrastructure or watercourses. It set that incidental harm to protected species, nests or eggs caused by such activities would not be considered “deliberate” under the Birds and Habitats Directives, provided the national authority ensures appropriate and proportionate mitigation measures, which can be set nationally or regionally.
Ahead of a vote in Plenary, the Parliament’s Committee on the Environment (ENVI) is expected to vote on its position in November 2026. The negocaition in trilogue will then set the course to a final agreement on the proposed regulation on speeding up environmental assessments.
CEPF welcomes that the Council’s position covers forestry and fire prevention works and will therefore follow the discussions in the European Parliament and the upcoming trilogue negotiations closely. CEPF hopes that these important provisions will be maintained and strengthened to support the work of European forest owners.
