WindEurope Warns Against Reopening EU Nature Directives to Speed Permits

WindEurope has pushed back against proposals to reopen the EU’s Birds and Habitats Directives, arguing that inconsistent enforcement — not the rules themselves — is what holds back wind energy development across Europe.

The call comes as Brussels moves toward a broader review of environmental legislation, with nature law among the targets. WindEurope, joined by developers and conservation groups including BirdLife Europe, warns that any attempt to rewrite the directives could trigger years of new legal disputes and construction delays — the opposite of the acceleration being promised.

To make its case, the association published a compendium of 40 real-world cases from 19 European countries showing that practical compromises are achievable within the current framework.

At the Austrian wind farm Andau, a radar system co-developed with air traffic authority Austro Control monitors nearby airspace and switches off aviation warning lights when no aircraft are present — leaving the lights dark on up to 90% of nights across the farm’s 79 turbines, reducing light pollution for surrounding communities. In Greece, PPC Renewables is restoring natural wetlands around Lake Karla, near a wind park in the region.

WindEurope’s Chief Policy Officer Pierre Tardieu argued that reopening the legislation “would mean years of controversy and questionable concessions that would only worsen both the environment and European energy security.” The industry is instead calling on member states to digitise permitting procedures and expand the pool of specialists who evaluate project applications.

Source: WindEurope