Umweltorganisation WWF Central and Eastern Europe

ongoing

EU policies and funding are central to WWF-CEE’s efforts to “Save the Green Heart of Europe”, i.e. many of Europe’s most valuable remaining rare species and areas of forests, rivers and wetlands in Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Moldova. The FY2026-27 work programme includes 15 specific objectives under 11 work packages. Our focus will be on a) the implementation of EU laws and policies, in particular the new regulations on nature restoration and deforestation free products, b) keeping high standards under the EU Nature and Water Framework Directives c) the conservation of large carnivores and sturgeon, d) the implementation of the Ukraine Facility Regulation as well as Chapter 27 of Ukraine's accession process. Climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts are focused on national policy-making as well as biodiversity safeguards for renewable hydropower and biomass. We join forces with other NGOs to promote ecosystem-based approaches. We will also work for the implementation of biodiversity and climate targets in sectoral policies, infrastructure, forestry, water and basin management, as well as funding measures under the Operational Programmes, the Common Agricultural Policy, the Ukraine Facility and the Multiannual Financial Framework. Where necessary, we will bring violations of EU environmental policies to the attention of the EU Commission, national courts and the public. In support of these efforts and to mainstream environmental work in societies of CEE countries, we will engage the general public as well as businesses to take action for biodiversity and climate.