WRITTEN QUESTION E-1148/02

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 April 2002)

Subject: Alpine Convention

The Preamble to the Alpine Convention states clearly that the Convention came into existence in the awareness that the Alps constitute an economic, cultural and recreational space and environment at the heart of Europe distinguished by nature, culture and history. By acknowledging these special features, the signatory states committed themselves to promoting a comprehensive policy of protection and preservation of the Alps and to supporting transfrontier cooperation in this area.

The European Union also signed the framework convention and thereby committed itself to the above.

Although the application of the Alpine Convention is geographically limited to the Alpine region, the Alps are the most important mountain system in Europe. The Alpine Convention is therefore exemplary for other mountain regions in the European Union and for the future Member States. The Alpine region extends over four EU Member States (Italy, France, Germany and Austria) and the applicant country Slovenia. The protection of the Alps may not, therefore, be regarded as a matter to be dealt with bilaterally between the individual countries, as it is of general European interest.

Can the Commission therefore state why it has been conspicuous by its absence at all the Alpine Convention's meetings and has not signed the additional protocols?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-1148/02, E-1149/02 and E-1229/02given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(12 June 2002)

The Council adopted Decision 96/191/EC on the conclusion, on behalf of the Community, of the Convention on the Protection of the Alps on 26 February 1996(1). Three days later, the instrument of ratification was deposited. Subsequently, on 29 May 1996 the Community became a Party to the Alpine Convention.

The Community has signed, on 20 December 1994, the Protocols on town and country planning and sustainable development, the Protocol on mountain farming, and the protocol on conservation of nature and landscape.

As indicated in the reply to Oral Question H-0111/02 by Mrs Flemming during question time at Parliament's March 2002 session(2), the Commission wants to focus to the maximum its limited resources on those areas in which its policies can bring added value.

Therefore, the Commission does not intend to propose ratification of the above-mentioned Protocols. The Commission does, however, believe it would be important for the Community to become a Party to the Alpine Convention's Transport Protocol. To this end, the Commission adopted on 16 January 2001 a Proposal on the signature of the Transport Protocol(3), which is currently being considered by the Council.

As to the signature or ratification of the three other Protocols, the Commission does not intend to make further proposals, this should however not be seen as a lack of interest in the promotion of sustainable development in the Alpine region.

Indeed, the Commission stresses the interest it attaches to mountain regions. This interest is exemplified by the fact that the Commission, in its second Report on Cohesion, recognised that mountain regions are already at a disadvantage and have, as such, been included as one of ten priorities for the future of the Community's cohesion policy. Moreover, the Commission intends to launch a study on mountain areas. The objectives of this study are to define mountain areas (zoning), to set up a database including different kind of indicators, in particular those linked to environment and hazards, and finally, to analyse the situation of these regions in a sustainable development perspective. Other Community policies such as its rural development and environment policy are also contributing to the sustainable development of mountain regions including the Alpine region, and to the conservation of mountain eco-systems and biodiversity.

As far as the dorsale d'Allemagna is concerned, this road is not included in the list of trans-european transport network projects identified by Decision No 1692/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-european transport network(4). However, the fact that the dorsale d'Allemagna is not a trans-european transport project as such does not prevent the Italian authorities to build this road as long as this is done in compliance with the relevant Community legislation.

(1) OJ L 61, 12.3.1996.

(2) Written reply, 12.3.2002.

(3) COM(2001) 18 final.

(4) OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.