The EU protects my environment by law and gives me the chance to contribute to that effort. It guarantees that my water is safe to drink, that my favourite place to swim, paddle or kayak is clean, and it works hard to ensure the air I breathe is fresh. Through the Natura 2000 programme, the EU maintains around 26,000 protected natural areas, covering nearly a fifth of the EU – that’s an area larger than Germany, Poland and the Czechia combined.