A3-0241/93

Resolution on the pollution of Lake Baikal

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mr Vernier and others on the pollution of Lake Baikal (B3-1543/92),

-having regard to the UNESCO internal report of 10 July 1990 on the Suitability of Lake Baikal as a World Heritage Area,

-having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A3-0241/93),

1. Considers that the European Community should :

(a)actively support the placing of the Baikal Lake on the world heritage list, and its designation as a biosphere reserve. This includes encouraging the Russian Parliament formally to propose the Lake and its surroundings as a World Heritage Area;

(b)insert an environmental dimension into the TACIS Regulation with adequate funding for environmental clean-up projects proposed by the Russian Federation and environmental impact assessments made of all projects which receive TACIS and LIFE (EC external environment fund) funding;

(c)give, and encourage the international community to give, all the technical and scientific support that it can give once the people of the Baikal region agree that they wish to embark on an extensive environmental management plan, in areas such as developing cleaner technologies, and cooperating to exchange information and ideas on ways of developing the area in a sustainable way;

(d)cooperate to ensure that monitoring of the Baikal area is undertaken on a regular basis and in a consistent way;

(e)ensure that projects already being drawn up by the Limnological Institute to develop sustainable commercial activities and clean up the environmental damage already caused to the Lake Baikal area are given both financial and moral support;

2.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and the Council.