Management planning in NATURA 2000 sites is a very complex issue. It is especially relevant at this point in time because the process of designation in most of the Member States is finishing and proper management of the sites needs to be established. This publication aims to assess the actual situation in management planning for NATURA 2000 sites and propose the best practice guidelines through the execution of: An analysis of the actual situation in NATURA 2000 and management planning in Europe theoretical overview based on literature overview, online sources and expert opinion ; a more in-depth analysis of the situation with regards to management planning for NATURA 2000 sites in selected Member States (MS) practical results and an overview at the national level, based especially on an online survey completed by the national experts for NATURA 2000 issues in selected Member States. The analysis is based on the responses of 10 Member States, namely the Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Cyprus, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Austria, Romania and UK. ; a proposal of guidelines for management planning in NATURA 2000 sites, based on best-practice observed from the analysis