WRITTEN QUESTION E-2478/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (16 July 1997)

Subject: Natura 2000

1. Has the Commission discussed how to cooperate between DGs in order to use structural funds and the CAP to finance management plans and protection of important sites?

2. One of the main problems of the CEECs joining the EU is how to protect their natural heritage from being destroyed. How far have the applicant countries come in the process of transposing and implementing the Habitat directive and Natura 2000? When they join the Union, the PHARE programme (which currently finances transposition and implementation) ceases to exist. How will the Commission ensure that enough resources are made available for these countries to continue the process after they have joined?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (26 September 1997)

1. Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora ((OJ L 206, 22.7.1992. )), known as the Habitats Directive, requires the Member States to indicate to the Commission the amounts they consider necessary for conserving the priority natural habitats and priority species on Natura 2000 sites. To date no Member State has forwarded this estimate, which is indispensable for adopting the action framework for Community co-financing.

However, the Commission has already had preparatory contacts to determine the extent to which Natura 2000 could be incorporated into existing financial instruments, which already in fact include many agro-environmental measures, including for the protection of areas of outstanding natural interest.

2. Following the applications for accession to the Community from 10 countries of central and eastern Europe, the Commission is closely monitoring the approximation of those countries' legislation to that of the Community, including the nature protection legislation included in the environmental 'acquis'. The Commission's opinion ((Doc. COM(97) 2001 to 2003. )) contains an assessment of the associated countries' position with regard to the acquis. In most of these countries there is a long tradition of nature protection and there has been good progress in adopting legislation to implement Directive 92/43/EEC.

In the communication 'Agenda 2000: For a stronger and wider Union' ((Doc. COM(97) 2000. )), which it has also just presented, the Commission proposes a bolstering of pre-accession aid from 2000 onwards, including - in addition to PHARE - an agricultural development component and a structural component. Once they accede, the new Member States will be eligible for various Community financial instruments capable of assisting action to protect their natural heritage.