Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius on behalf of the European Commission

The European Green Deal[1] recognises the global importance of the Outermost Regions’ rich biodiversity and commits to paying particular attention to these regions taking into account their unique assets, including their biodiversity. In addition, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030[2] envisages a particular focus on restoring and protecting the outermost regions’ ecosystems, given their exceptionally high biodiversity value[3].

The strategy sets out the EU roadmap for putting Europe’s biodiversity on the path to recovery by 2030 and includes a number of specific commitments and actions including the development of a coherent network of protected areas in the EU and a comprehensive EU nature restoration plan.

The Biodiversity Strategy also states that its protection targets should include a ‘specific focus on areas of very high biodiversity value or potential’ which ‘are the most vulnerable to climate change and should be granted special care in the form of strict protection’.

Under the new EU programme for the environment and climate action[4] a small grant scheme to unlock the local potential for biodiversity action in the EU’s Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories will be set up, building on the experience of the voluntary scheme for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Territories of European overseas initiative[5].

The new governance framework outlined in the strategy includes the setting up of a monitoring and review mechanism including a set of agreed indicators enabling regular progress assessment. A new Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity[6] has been set up to support this work including as regards Outermost Regions.

• [1] https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en
• [2]  https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/strategy/index_en.htm
• [3]  https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal/actions-being-taken-eu/eu-biodiversity-strategy-2030_en
• [4] LIFE : https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/life
• [5] https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/best/ https://www.life4best.org/en/home/
• [6] https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/biodiversity_en