A directive too far

EUReferendum
For all that, though, the EU is not off the hook - not by any means. Through an entirely different directive, the Habitats Directive, we see imposed a complex system of safeguards for "European Protected Species" – and this certainly does have an effect of choices made, as to whether to carry out dredging.

Essentially, because dredging is a process which is potentially harmful to a wide rage of species, a wide range of controls are most often imposed – with significant cost implications. And while the extra costs, per se do not prevent dredging, they can render the process too expensive for current budgetary allocations – or make alternatives more attractive. "