WRITTEN QUESTION E-0335/99

by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission

(23 February 1999)

Subject: OPM projects: development and promotion of sustainable tourism and preservation of sheep tracks

Sheep tracks are grass covered paths between 60 and 110 metres wide used for thousands of years to move flocks and herds from the mountain pastures of Abruzzo and Molise to the valleys of the Tavoliere di Puglia. This is an invaluable historical and archaeological heritage because of its considerable influence on the development and use of the area (they are bound by Law 1089/39 on the protection of historical, artistic and environmental assets) and also from the environmental and ecological point of view because these belts of land are of great biological and botanic importance (conservation of biodiversity).

The Regional Government of Molise laid down, by Decision No 304 of 16.3.1998, a number of priorities for the protection of these sheep tracks. The Region of Molise is starting to carry out an OMP pilot project "for the development and promotion of sustainable tourism in the regions covered by Objective 1 - Measure No 3 - Interregional Cultural Routes - 'Transhumance paths'."

This project was however drawn up solely by an electrical engineer and an architect, in other words, not by professional experts conversant with the technical and ecological problems of these sheep tracks, be they agronomic, botanical, biological, forestry or archaeological. Local ecological groups have also informed the Public Prosecutor's Office at the Campobasso Audit Office of various possible irregularities in the procedures for awarding contracts.

Does the Commission believe that for the purpose of funding projects in such sensitive environments it is necessary to require preliminary compatibility studies and to appoint experts with scientific and technical authority in order to avoid the risk of failing to achieve the objectives of conservation, as alleged in this case by the environmental organisations?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(27 April 1999)

The implementation of the projects under the multi-regional operational programme "Development and promotion of sustainable tourism in the regions covered by Objective 1" is the responsibility of the Italian Department of Tourism which comes under the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.

The latter has informed the Commission that the drawing up of the "Transhumance paths" route in Molise was the subject of a protocol between the Italian Department of Tourism and the Region of Molise. The Region thereafter delegated to Isernia and Campobasso provinces the coordination of the activities on their territory.

The consultants mentioned by the Honourable Member provided technical assistance to the two provinces concerned, limited to programming and coordination with the municipal authorities and to the preparation of a specific "logo and signs" project.

The other municipal projects, on the other hand, were, according to information available to the Commission, prepared by external consultants selected by the municipalities themselves, according to the rules on public service contracts in force.