93/626/EEC: Council Decision of 25 October 1993 concerning the conclusion of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Date: 1993-10-25
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: UN convention, biomass, conservation of resources, ecosystem, environmental protection, ratification of an agreement

13 . 12 . 93

Official Journal of the European Communities

No L 309 / 1

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COUNCIL

COUNCIL DECISION

of 25 October 1993

concerning the conclusion of the Convention on Biological Diversity

(93 /626/ EEC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Economic Community, and in particular Article 130s
thereof,

Whereas the Community has already implemented many
measures in those territories to which the Treaty applies,
to safeguard biological diversity; whereas these measures
make and will continue to make a significant contri­
bution to the conservation of biodiversity worldwide ;

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('),

Having regard to the opinion of
Parliament (2),

the European

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and
Social Committee (J),

Whereas
the Community and its Member States
participated in the negotiations under the auspices of the
United Nations Environment Programme for the prep­
aration of a Convention on Biological Diversity;

Whereas, during the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro from 3
to 14 June 1992, the Convention on Biological Diversity
was signed by the Community and all of its Member
States ;

Whereas the Convention, pursuant to Article 34 thereof,
ratification, acceptance or approval by
is open for
Member States and by regional economic integration
organizations ;

Whereas the protection of the environment is one of the
Community's objectives, in accordance with Article 130r
of the Treaty, which includes the conservation of nature
and biological diversity;

O OJ No C 237,
O OJ No C 194, 19. 7. 1993.
O OJ No C 249, 13. 9. 1993, p. 1 .

1 . 9. 1993, p. 4.

Whereas the conservation of biological diversity is a
global concern and it is therefore appropriate for the
Community and its Member States to participate in
international efforts with the same goal, particularly by
encouraging the conservation and sustainable use of bio­
logical diversity and in attaining agreed rules about utili­
zation and sharing the benefits which are generated ;

Whereas,
in view of the measures the Community has
already adopted in some of the areas covered by the
Convention,
in these
areas at an international level ;

the Community should also act

Whereas it
is desirable for the Community and its
in the
Member States to become Contracting Parties,
context of their respective powers in the areas covered by
the Convention, so that all the obligations laid down in
the Convention can be properly fulfilled ;

Whereas the Convention should therefore be approved,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS :

Article 1

The Convention on Biological Diversity signed in June
1992 in Rio de Janeiro is hereby approved by the
European Economic Community.

No L 309/2

Official Journal of the European Communities

13 . 12 . 93

The text of the Convention appears in Annex A to this
Decision .

Decision in accordance with Article 34 (3) of
the
Convention as well as the declaration set out in Annex C
to this Decision.

Article 2

1 .
The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the
European Economic Cominunityj deposit the instrument
of approval with the Secretary-General of the United
the
Nations
Convention.

in accordance with Article 34 ( 1 ) of

At the same time the President shall, on behalf of
2.
the European Economic Community,
the
declaration of competence set out in Annex B to this

deposit

Done at Luxembourg, 25 October 1993 .

For the Council

The President

Ph. MAYSTADT