PC meeting with European Commission and MEPs

In December the PC led a visit of 20 conservation biologists to the European Parliament in Brussels. Meetings were arranged with 4 Directorates-General from the European Commission:

- DG Environment (Directorates Nature & Biodiversity and LIFE)
- DG Agriculture and Rural Develpoment
- DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
- DG Research

Afterwards the group met with few Members of the European Parliament and representatives of the European Environmental Bureau.

The visit was quite successful and relevant conservation issues were discussed, for example, the Natura 2000 network and the protection of biodiversity in the climate change context, the European strategy on invasive species, the establishment of Marine Protected Areas or the representation of conservation science in the framework programmes. Specifically, the protection od roadless areas, an initiative launched by the PC, was received with great enthusiasm.