Freshwater, wetlands and sponge landscapes for a resilient Europe

The landmark Nature Restoration Regulation was adopted by the European Union in August 2024 following a lengthy negotiation process. The Regulation – which compels EU member states to restore their degraded land, water and sea ecosystems by 2050 – is now entering a critical implementation phase.

The first drafts of National Nature Restoration Plans (or NNRPs) which guide this restoration work are due to be submitted in summer 2026. As a result, negotiators from environmental, agricultural, forestry and other land management organisations are meeting across Europe to develop roadmaps for each member state to reach the ambitious goals of the new legislation.

At the same time, environmental organisations have warned against the weakening of European Commission nature protections as a result of industry lobbying. Last week, a coalition including WWF, BirdLife and the European Environmental Bureau cautioned that weaker rules in the new Environmental Omnibus and the Grids Package poses serious threats to European ecosystems and public health.

In this context, four flagship European research projects will present their findings at a major policy event in Brussels in March 2026 to discuss the future of restoration policy and practice across the continent.

The four projects – MERLIN, WaterLANDS, SpongeScapes and SpongeWorks – will highlight key insights, practical tools and success stories from freshwater, wetland and sponge landscapes across Europe.

The event will facilitate discussion on two key themes for implementing the Nature Restoration Regulation in Europe: upscaling restoration projects; and engaging with economic sectors and financiers. It will offer a space for EU and national decision makers to engage with cutting-edge research and practice in freshwater restoration across Europe.

The policy event will be held on 10th March 2026 at Maison de la Poste in Brussels. Registration is free, both for in-person and online attendance. Interested participants should register via the MERLIN website by the 31st January 2026.

For more information, please contact the Event Secretariat: brussels2026@project-merlin.eu

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This article is supported by the MERLIN project.