Building the new northern section of the A33 motorway through a Natura 2000 site

Subject: Building the new northern section of the A33 motorway through a Natura 2000 site

Germany is planning to build a new northern section of the A33 motorway in the Osnabrück area. Building that section is termed a motorway completion measure. The plan is for the section to run from the current motorway endpoint in Belm municipality and link up with the A1 motorway at Bramsche. The motorway will run through predominantly agricultural areas in Belm municipality and through residential parts of the village of Rulle in Wallenhorst municipality. The new section will cross a Natura 2000 site: the Wiehengebirge bat habitat near Osnabrück (EEA-ID DE3614334). As a Natura 2000 site will be affected by construction of the new section, the Commission’s approval is required.

1. When Germany applies for authorisation, does the Commission intend to check whether there is sufficient provision for the requisite coherence measures?

2. In the Commission's view, can a Natura 2000 site be called into question at all by Member States and, if so, how does the Commission intend to ensure that equivalent sites are designated in the immediate vicinity of the Natura 2000 site affected that afford precisely the same protected status?

3. If Germany's application is approved, does the Commission intend to press for a speed limit to be introduced so as to safeguard the Natura 2000 site, since the types of habitat there are subject to nitrogen pollution, which is very high in some instances, and a speed limit might possibly provide a remedy?

Submitted: 15.4.2025