RESOLUTION A3-0214/92

Resolution on the implementation of the Berne Convention in the European Community

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Council of Europe Convention on the Conservation of European wildlife and habitats (1979) (Berne Convention), to which all EC Member States, as well as the Community en bloc, are signatories,

- having regard to Recommendations 14, 15 and 16 (1989) of the Berne Convention Standing Committee,

- having regard to its resolution of 12 October 1988 on the implementation in the European Community of the Berne Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats and the Bonn Convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animalsOJ No. C 290, 14.11.1988, p. 54,

-having regard to its resolutions of 17 February 1989 on the protection of brown bears in the European CommunityOJ No. C 69, 20.3.1989, p. 201 and on wolf conservationOJ No. C 69, 20.3.1989, p. 202 ,

-having regard to its opinion of 13 December 1990 on the Commission proposal for a Council regulation on action by the Community relating to nature conservation (ACNAT)OJ No. C 19, 28.1.1991, p. 277,

- having regard to its opinion of 19 November 1990 on the proposal from the Commission to the Council for a directive on the protection of natural and semi-natural habitats and of wild fauna and floraOJ No. C 324, 24.12.1990, p. 22,

-having regard to its opinion of 13 September 1991 on the proposal from the Commission to the Council for a regulation establishing a Financial Instrument for the Environment (LIFE)OJ No. C 267, 14.10.1991, p. 211,

-having delegated the power of decision, pursuant to Rule 37 of its Rules of Procedure, to the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection,

-having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mrs Garcia Arias and others on the implementation of the Berne Convention in the European Community (B3-1385/90),

-having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection and the opinion of the Committee on Regional Policy and Regional Planning (A3-0214/92),

A.mindful of the continuing threats to species of wild flora and fauna and their habitats in the Community,

B.whereas the Community's legislative obligations under the Convention were partially met with the passing of Directive 79/409 on the conservation of wild birds,

C.whereas the adoption by Council on 12 December 1991 of the Directive on the protection of natural and semi-natural habitats of wild fauna and flora was intended to meet the outstanding obligations,

D.whereas Directive 79/409 has been the subject of numerous official complaints, especially in relation to site conservation, and whereas this has failed to stop the degradation and destruction of many important sites,

E.having regard to the efforts being made by numerous national and regional governments, especially in less-favoured areas, to conserve and extend essential habitats,

F.whereas the extension of habitats and protected areas implies reduced activity in agriculture, forestry and tourism in many regions, especially less-favoured areas,

1.Congratulates the Commission and the Council on the adoption of the Habitats Directive;

2.Calls upon the Commission, the Member States and, where applicable, the regional authorities, to draw up and implement action plans for globally threatened species in the Community as a matter of priority, and then to do the same for species for which the Community has a particular responsibility worldwide;

3.Calls upon the Commission to identify those sites of importance to species listed in the Berne Convention in accordance with Recommendation 16 (1989) of the Standing committee of the Berne Convention and to take the necessary conservation measures;

4.Calls upon the Commission to pay particular attention to such sites when allocating funds for conservation measures, and to take due account of the situation of the least-favoured areas of the Community;

5.Calls on the Commission to make every effort to coordinate all Community policies and funding mechanisms to ensure that such sites are protected and appropriately managed, with particular reference to the Structural Funds, agricultural policy, fisheries policy, tourism policy, transport policy, energy policy, LIFE, and the new Cohesion Fund;

6.Calls in particular for closer scrutiny by DG XI of projects likely to affect, directly or indirectly, such sites;

7.Calls for the following measures to be taken in the context of the ERDF and the EAGGF (Guidance Section):

(a)inclusion of the areas concerned among the less-favoured areas eligible for aid from the two funds;

(b)provision of resources to encourage the types of physical planning required for the survival of species, especially in the forestry sector;

(c)priority to be given by Community cofinancing to economic activities compatible with the survival and development of species, in view of their role as a characteristic asset of the natural and cultural heritage of the areas concerned;

(d)creation of actions and funds aimed at compensating the possible limitations or restrictions on activity arising from the protection of species;

8.Urges the Commission and Member States specifically to seek ways of implementing Directive 79/409 on the conservation of wild birds and the recently adopted Directive on habitats through new agri-environmental schemes introduced as part of CAP reform;

9.Calls on the Commission to give greatest priority in funding Community conservation activities to the most seriously threatened species, such as the brown bear, the Iberian wolf and the lynx, and to guarantee adequate multiannual programme arrangements;

10.Calls on the Commission to give financial priority to programmes for compensating farmers for damage caused by protected species;

11.Calls on the Commission to make urgent representations to the Member States to introduce stricter restrictions, or an outright ban, on hunting in areas inhabited by bears, given that this practice is putting the species at risk and is giving rise, in certain Member States (Spain and Greece), to dangerous levels of poaching affecting the brown bear;

12.Calls upon the Council and the Commission to consider ways in which the procedure for investigating complaints under the two Directives can be of more use in saving threatened sites, and to present proposals to Parliament by 1 January 1993;

13.Instructs its President to forward this Resolution to the Commission, the Council and the Member States.