WRITTEN QUESTION P-2659/99

by Othmar Karas (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 December 1999)

Subject: Impact on hunting of the designation of the Hohe Tauern (A) National Park as a Natura 2000 site

The Hohe Tauern National Park in Austria has been designated a Natura 2000 site. In the Natura 2000 Newsletter No 5 of February 1998 the competent Directorate-General (XI) expressly states that hunting in the designated sites is not automatically prohibited under the Directive.

Is it true that the Habitats Directive 92/43(1) will have no impact on hunting in the Hohe Tauern National Park? In this area hunting has always played a considerable role in protecting and conserving species and biotopes and should continue to do so. Does the Commission agree that hunting is not to be interpreted as one of those disruptive factors which are prohibited under the Directive by reason of their significantly negative impact on the environment?

The Commission has drafted guidelines for the application and interpretation by the Member States of Article 6 of the Directive. Why have these guidelines, which have been under discussion for over six months, still not been submitted to the European Parliament for its assessment and opinion? Do these guidelines contain any clarification regarding hunting in Natura 2000 areas?

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(17 January 2000)

The inclusion of areas in Natura 2000 is not intended as a block on human activities (e.g. hunting). The emphasis is on ensuring that human activities are sustainable and not damaging to conservation values. Member States are responsible for taking appropriate steps to avoid, in a Natura 2000 site, any deterioration of natural habitats and the habitats of species as well as significant disturbance of the species for which a site was designated. This corresponds to provisions laid down in Article 6(2) of Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (the Habitats Directive). They concern both sites to be designated under the Habitats Directive, and sites designated under Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979, on the conservation of wild birds(1) (the Birds Directive).

In this framework the question of hunting within Natura 2000 sites must be addressed on a case by case basis. How far restrictions on hunting in the national park of Hohe Tauern are necessary or not, is to be determined by the Austrian authorities.

Although not obligatory, the Habitats Directive identifies management plans, specifically designed for Natura 2000 sites or integrated into other development plans, as a valuable tool in providing a framework in which the different interests influencing such sites (e.g. hunting) can be adequately addressed.

The Commission is currently preparing, in co-operation with Member States nature authorities, a document called Interpretation guide to Article 6 of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC. Its main purpose will be to suggest a legal interpretation of terms and concepts used in this article. This document will reflect only the views of the Commission and will not be of a binding nature. As soon as the document is finalised, it will be available to all interested parties.

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.