WRITTEN QUESTION E-1149/02

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 April 2002)

Subject: Alpine Convention Italy

At present, Italy holds the Presidency of the Alpine Convention (2000-2002). However, the Environment Ministry in Rome responsible for the matter has to date been hesitant in launching new initiatives. What is more, the entire Alpine Convention process has ground to a halt, and dates for further meetings have also not yet been set.

As the European Union has signed the Alpine Convention and thereby committed itself to promoting a comprehensive policy of protection and preservation of the Alps, can the Commission state what action it proposes to take so that:

- the Alpine Convention process continues,

- the protocols which have already been signed are ratified before the end of 2002,

- the corresponding political framework is created and funds are made available, and

- the Transport Protocol, which has already been signed, is adhered to in full (Alemagna)?

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.