Report | Going with the flow: barrier removal for healthier rivers

Download the report here.

ClientEarth and Living Rivers Europe’s legal briefing on Article 9 under the Nature Restoration Regulation.

This briefing is intended to support national authorities, river basin managers, and policy practitioners in interpreting and implementing Article 9 of the Nature Restoration Regulation.

The briefing offers a practical, legally grounded guide that is structured to:

• Clarify the legal scope of Article 9 and what types of restoration measures count toward the 25,000 km target, including how these actions contribute to achieving Good Ecological Status (GES) by 2027 under the Water Framework Directive (WFD);
• Guide the prioritisation and planning of barrier removals;
• Ensure legal coherence and robust environmental assessment;
• Provide tools, good practice examples, and references to support effective implementation strategies.