This paper addresses the role of institutions and ecosystem services in the context of the emerging multilevel environmental governance of the EU. In particular it argues that institutions and ecosystem fit can largely contribute to the convergence of existing environmental policies of new EU Member States from Central and Eastern Europe with EU. Examples from adaptation of biodiversity policies of Poland, Slovak Republic and Czech Republic illustrates conflicts and success stories in particular involvement of non-state actors, changing roles of the state and new mechanisms for actors involvement. The emergence of multilevel governance with multiple actors’ participation is prone to create tensions, but evidence from the countries studied indicates that this is not necessarily a disadvantage.