CONTACT : Natura2000 Workshop Future Natura2000 procedures The workshop contained two parts, each of them presented by an external expert. The first part introduced the Bulgarian partners to the future expected procedures the proposed list of sites will pass trough at the European Commission. Therefore, in May 1992 European Union governments adopted legislation designed to protect the most seriously threatened habitats and species across Europe. This legislation is called the Habitats Directive and complements the Birds Directive adopted in 1979. At the heart of both these Directives is the creation of a network of sites called Natura 2000. The Birds Directive requires the establishment of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for birds. The Habitats Directive similarly requires Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) to be designated for other species, and for habitats. Together, SPAs and SACs make up the Natura 2000 series. All EU Member States contribute to the network of sites in a Europe-wide partnership from the Canaries to Crete and from Sicily to Finnish Lapland. The candidate member states Romania and Bulgaria that are accessing the EU on January 1st 2007 will shortly present their list of Natura2000 sites with corresponding forms to the Commission. To explain what will further happen with the lists at the Commission, Mr. Roekaerts, Natura2000 expert from Eureko in Belgium was invited to the workshop. Read more about the workshop GIS at Grenspark De Zoom.