WRITTEN QUESTION E-3793/02

by Dorette Corbey (PSE)and Marie Isler Béguin (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(7 January 2003)

Subject: Annual report on Europe's nature and biodiversity

On 14 March 2002 the European Parliament with a majority of 370 votes in favour, 8 against and 14 abstentions approved the resolution on biodiversity(1). In point 13 Parliament asks for an annual report on Europe's nature and biodiversity. Information on the state of Europe's biodiversity is still fragmented and uncoordinated. An annual report would enable Parliament, Council and Commission to monitor the state of Europe's biodiversity and to develop timely measures if necessary and appropriate. An annual report would also motivate and inspire those who make the efforts: progress would be visible and regression would be met with new or additional protection measures. It would be a useful addition to the evaluation of the effectiveness of existing protection directives and policies.

1. Is the Commission prepared to fulfil Parliament's request and to take the initiative for an annual report on Europe's nature and biodiversity?

2. To draw up an annual report, a series of indicators and network of reporters are needed. Will the Commission make use of the European Centre for Nature Conservation and build on the progress that was made at this centre in coordinating and developing monitoring methods? How will the Commission involve the European Environment Agency?

(1) European Parliament resolution on the communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the biodiversity action plans in the areas of conservation of natural resources, agriculture, fisheries, and development and economic cooperation (COM(2001) 162) C5-0467/2001 2001/2189(COS)).

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(11 February 2003)

The Commission informs the Honourable Members that it agrees that information on the state of Europe's biodiversity is still fragmented and recognises the value of regular reporting in enabling the Parliament, the Council and the Commission to monitor the state of Europe's biodiversity and to develop timely measures if appropriate.

While at present no annual report exists which comprehensively meets the aim of the Biodiversity Resolution, point 13, a number of current reporting processes involving the Commission, Member States and/or European agencies go some way towards meeting this aim. These include: general annual reports (e.g. the Spring Report, Annual Survey on the Implementation and Enforcement of European Environmental Legislation, and potentially the Annual Environment Policy Review); regular (but not annual) reports on nature and biodiversity required under the Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans and under the Birds and Habitats Directives(1); and various reports of the European Environment Agency (EEA).

The current three- and six-year periods for reporting provided for under the nature and biodiversity acquis reflect consensus at the time of the adoption of each instrument as to what period of reporting is appropriate and feasible. Consequently, it may be questionable whether and to what extent annual reporting on nature and biodiversity is appropriate and feasible, and the extent to which consensus exists on this issue among the Member States and Community institutions.

The issues of monitoring and indicators underpin reporting and there is considerable ongoing work on these issues. In particular, the EEA is preparing for the Commission a set of biodiversity indicators against which to monitor progress under the Biodiversity Action Plans. It might be feasible to identify a sub-set of these for which data might be collected and analysed on an annual basis. The EEA (with its European Topic Centre) has also contracted the European Centre for Nature Conservation (ECNC) to review monitoring methods for nature conservation. The Commission, EEA (with its ETC), UK Joint Nature Conservation Committee, ECNC and United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for Europe (UNEP-ROE) are active in other related initiatives including: monitoring for Natura 2000 sites; monitoring and assessment of conservation status in relation to Community nature directives; an international working group on monitoring and indicators (Bio-MIN); a European Biodiversity Monitoring and Indicator Framework (EBMI-F); the development of agri-environment indicators (under the IRENA project) and the development of indicators (including on nature and biodiversity) for the monitoring of rural development programmes. The Commission expects to continue to seek support from the EEA and suitably qualified contractors such as ECNC on these issues.

In conclusion, the Commission believes that, while it is appropriate and feasible to report annually on selected aspects of those issues identified in the Resolution point 13, it is not at this time appropriate or feasible to produce an annual report which comprehensively addresses those issues. However, the Commission would be pleased to review the extent to which these issues are adequately covered by existing reporting, the extent to which it may be appropriate and feasible to address any gap, and the extent to which rates of change in biodiversity, rates of progress on programmes and projects and the availability of data merit annual reporting. This review would take into account ongoing work on monitoring and indicators which might provide a suitable basis for selective annual reporting on nature and biodiversity. The Commission suggests that the forthcoming review of the Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans provides a most appropriate vehicle within which to conduct this review of reporting on nature and biodiversity.

(1) Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds OJ L 103, 25.4.1979 and Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.