WRITTEN QUESTION E-1271/00

by Guido Sacconi (PSE) to the Commission

(19 April 2000)

Subject: Action plan for mountain areas

Mountain areas are one of Europe's most priceless assets, in that they contain vital resources such as water and forests which provide a habitat for rare species and are the home to deep-rooted cultural traditions, as well as providing a refuge from the stresses and strains of everyday life for many Europeans. Furthermore, it is important to maintain adequate population levels in those areas so as to help ensure the preservation of delicate hydrogeological balances that require permanent attention and care.

Therefore, given the wide range of problems facing those areas and the fact that many of the applicant countries themselves have extensive mountain areas, an EU strategy specifically aimed at assisting the local population in preserving this environment is of particular importance.

In this connection, on 23 October 1998 the European Parliament adopted a resolution (A4-0368/98)(1) on a new strategy for mountain regions in which it called on the Commission to submit at the earliest opportunity a Community action plan for mountain areas and to make greater provision for those areas under Objective 2 of the Structural Funds.

Given that, two year since that resolution was published, such an action plan has yet to be submitted, can the Commission state whether the current Objective 2 eligibility criteria really do cater properly for the specific needs of mountain areas?

Does it consider that the submission of an action plan would help to make Community action in such areas more effective?

If it does, what is the time frame for implementation? Furthermore, has the Commission taken due account of the specific problems of mountain areas during the negotiations with the applicant countries?

(1) OJ C 341, 9.11.1998, p. 369.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(31 May 2000)

The Commission has indeed taken into account Parliament's resolution calling on it to present a Community action plan for mountain areas.

During the 2000-2006 programming period, a large number of mountain areas will be eligible under Objective 1 or Objective 2 of the reform of the Structural Funds. As regards Objective 2,

the eligibility criteria stipulated for rural areas by Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds(1) certainly cover the difficulties facing a number of mountain areas: a population density of less than 100 people per km2, a percentage share of agricultural employment in total employment which is higher than the Community average, a decline in population since 1985, ageing or decline of the agricultural working population.

Other aspects of the resolution will be progressively taken into account during the 2000-2006 implementation period of the Structural Funds.

Since Community Initiatives may operate in areas not eligible under Objectives 1 and 2, new Community support options are available to mountain areas including under the Leader+ Initiative. The guidelines for the Community's Interreg III Initiative, which the Commission adopted on 28 April 2000(2), also make specific reference to mountain areas.

The new common agricultural policy (CAP) will likewise enable better account to be taken of mountain areas' needs, in terms both of the market (extensification premium under the market organisation for beef and veal) and of support for rural development, the new guidelines for which offer such areas attractive opportunities (agro-environmental measures, compensatory allowances for less-favoured areas, support for adapting and developing rural areas).

In order to describe all the Community measures relating to mountain areas, the Commission drew up a special booklet which it presented at the Second European Mountain Convention in Trento in March 2000. A copy of that booklet has been sent directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.

This represents a step towards the comprehensive approach which the action plan aims to promote. The process will progressively involve the various Commission departments, other Community institutions and a number of bodies specialised in promoting mountain interests with regard to the international year of the mountain in 2002.

In principle, this will apply to each new Member State joining the Union. The Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-Accession (ISPA), the action plan for coordinated aid to Poland and Hungary (PHARE), and particularly the special accession programme for agriculture and rural development (Sapard) already provide scope for trying out measures which are specifically targeted at mountain areas or which benefit them indirectly.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2) COM(1999) 479 final.