On this day, the European Commission has taken the significant step of referring Slovenia to the Court of Justice of the European Union for non-compliance with the provisions of the Birds Directive (Directive 2009/147/EC). This directive obliges Member States to designate Special Protection Areas to safeguard wild bird populations. Slovenia has not yet designated the most suitable areas within its marine jurisdiction, particularly Osrednji Tržaški zaliv, as Special Protected Areas for the Mediterranean Shag.
Establishing protected areas in the marine environment is essential for preserving critical breeding, feeding, and migratory sites for seabirds, thereby playing a vital role in their conservation. The Commission previously issued a letter of formal notice to Slovenia in June 2021, followed by a reasoned opinion in July 2022. Furthermore, the Commission has underscored the findings of the SIMARINE LIFE project, completed in 2015, which identified and confirmed suitable areas for the protection of this species within the Slovenian coastal region, including Osrednji Tržaški zaliv.
Despite numerous discussions and exchanges, Slovenia has yet to designate or adequately classify a sufficient number of marine areas as Special Protected Areas to ensure the protection of the Mediterranean Shag. Consequently, the Commission considers the efforts of the Slovenian authorities insufficient, leading to the referral of Slovenia to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
