As of 1 September, 20 of the 27 EU member states had not submitted their national nature restoration plan.
EnvironmentEuropean Union
- Omissions
- The claim refers specifically to the deadline for DRAFT National Restoration Plans (due 1 September 2026); final plans are due by 1 September 2027, so the missed deadline does not mean member states have no obligation to deliver plans.
- Some member states reportedly blamed the European Commission for delays, and the Commission disputed framing that it was itself falling behind on related reporting.
- Sources confirming the figure are journalistic (ENDS Europe, Eunews, EU Perspectives, Brussels Times) rather than a consolidated official Eurostat-style statistic; the European Commission's own news item of 1 September 2026 confirms the submission milestone but the exact count is corroborated mainly by press reporting.
- Sources
- PrimaryEuropean Commission – DG Environment news: 'EU countries submit draft plans on restoring nature'The plans contain information on how Member States intend to meet each of the restoration targets up to 2030. (Published 1 September 2026, the deadline for submission of draft National Restoration Plans.)
- SecondaryENDS EuropeMember states blame Brussels after 20 miss deadline for nature restoration plans ... Just seven member states have submitted ...
- SecondaryEunewsTwenty EU countries, including Italy, are behind schedule with their national nature restoration plans.
- SecondaryEU PerspectivesTwenty EU member states missed the deadline for nature restoration plans, as Brussels denies falling behind on its own funding report.