91997E2751

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2751/97 by Kyösti Virrankoski (ELDR) to the Commission (1 September 1997)

Subject: Preparation of Finland's Natura 2000 programme

In Finland the Environment Ministry's proposal concerning the areas of countryside to be included in the Natura 2000 programme has been on display for the benefit of land owners and local authorities.

It is not clear from the proposal what restrictions on land use would be entailed by inclusion in the Natura 2000 programme nor is any definition provided of the specific areas to which restrictions would apply.

Does the Commission believe that clear restrictions on land use do not need to be explained either to local authorities or individual land owners any more than the area to which restrictions will apply?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (18 September 1997)

The Natura 2000 network was established under the so-called 'Habitats' Directive ((Council Directive 92/43/EEC, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992. )). This provides for three stages:

- each Member State will put forward a list of sites on the basis of scientific criteria in pursuance of Annexes I, II and III to the Directive (before June 1995);

- in agreement with the Member States the Commission will draw up a list of sites of Community-wide importance (before June 1998);

- each Member State will designate the sites adopted as special conservation areas as quickly as possible (by at the latest June 2006).

The Member States will introduce the conservation measures that are needed for the sites adopted when these are designated as special conservation areas (Article 6(1)). In addition, since these are sites set out in the list of sites of Community-wide importance, they will take appropriate action in order to avoid habitat deterioration and disturbances affecting protected species, and in order to subject any plan or project that is likely to affect a site to a significant degree to an appropriate assessment of its impact on the site (Article 6(2), (3) and (4), in combination with Article 4(5).

It is thus up to each Member State to decide precisely when it wishes to describe any possible limitations on land use in detail, provided that such action is in line with Articles 4, paragraphs 5 and 6 of the 'Habitats' Directive.

In any case the introduction of such management measures should not slow down Stage 1 - currently in progress in Finland - which must be based exclusively on scientific criteria.