WRITTEN QUESTION E-2905/00

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(14 September 2000)

Subject: Accession negotiations with Cyprus

Environmental groups in Cyprus claim that the government is failing to take measures to protect the sensitive environment of the Akamas peninsula or to enforce court rulings or such legislation as already exists to protect the area from development.

Will, or have, the specific concerns about the Akamas peninsula, and the more general issues they raise about environmental protection and enforcement of environmental legislation, play any part in the accession negotiations relating to the environment chapter?

Has any indication been given by the government that the Akamas will be declared a special area of conservation under the Natura 2000 programme, and if so how much of the peninsula will be so included?

Will EU negotiators insist that measures are taken to protect the Akamas before closing the environment chapter of the negotiations?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 2000)

The Commission is aware that the environmental protection of the Akamas peninsula is a subject of intense debate both within and outside Cyprus. As already indicated in its answer to Written Question E-1781/00 by Mrs Frassoni(1), the Commission is following this subject closely through the various means at its disposal. These include in particular the chapter of the accession negotiations relating to the environment, on-going technical contacts with the Cypriot authorities on environmental questions, and the various pre-accession instruments, such as the regular report on progress towards accession. The accession negotiations on environment, as in other chapters, take account not only of legal transposition but also implementation of the relevant acquis. The commitments made by the candidate countries in the negotiations are being closely monitored.

Furthermore, the candidate countries have been reminded of the Council conclusions of 24 September 1998 on accession strategies for the environment, in which it was stated that all new investment should comply with the environmental acquis<.

As part of the preparations for accession in relation to the environment, Cyprus will, in respect of the habitats directive, Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992, on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora(2), present a list of proposed sites to be designated as special areas of conservation for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network. The proposal will include a clear definition of the boundaries of the areas in question. A project under the LIFE programme, which is assisting the Cypriot authorities in this task, has identified the Akamas region in an indicative list of such areas.

The Cypriot authorities have informed the Commission of interim decisions taken in March 2000 intended to provide for sustainable management of the Akamas peninsula. These include continuing the dialogue with all parties in order to reach, if possible, a consensus decision and taking a number of concrete steps to clean up and improve the condition of the area. The dialogue with the parties concerned would be guided by a number of objectives, including the acquisition of private properties enclaved within the state forest, prevention of tourist development in the Lara Toxeftra area (an important sea turtle habitat), while allowing mild and rational development outside the state forest with respect for the environment. Final decisions would be taken by the Cypriot authorities after the dialogue is completed, taking account of the relevant Community acquis, and international and national obligations.

(1) OJ C 89 E, 20.3.2001, p. 85.

(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.