Interpretation of the <scp>EU</scp> Nature Restoration Law: from pieces of a puzzle to a complete picture

The Regulation 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2024, aiming at “the long‐term and sustained recovery of biodiverse and resilient ecosystems across the Member States' land and sea areas through the restoration of degraded ecosystems” is absolutely fundamental for Europe and for the rest of the world. Until 2027, and in the successive implementation periods of 2030, 2040, and 2050, the quality of restoration will largely depend on the ambition of legal interpretation. A minimalist interpretation can strike down the law and reduce its expected impact to nearly nothing. However, there are strong legal grounds to advocate in favor of a systemic interpretation. Rooted in arguments of comparison, coherence, and consistency, this article aims to demonstrate that systemic interpretation is the only viable hermeneutics respecting the rationale, legal context, and fundamental mandate of the Nature Restoration Law and consequently delivering effective long‐term restoration.