WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1286/97 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS to the Commission. Creation of protected areas in the delta of the River Nestos
Date: 1997-04-11
Institutions: European Parliament, PAPAYANNAKIS
Subjects: Greece, competence of the Member States, environmental protection, protected area, protected species, protection of animal life, protection of plant life, wildlife













EUR-Lex - 91997E1286 - EN






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91997E1286

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1286/97 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS to the Commission. Creation of protected areas in the delta of the River Nestos  


Official Journal C 373 , 09/12/1997 P. 0101 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1286/97 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (11 April 1997)Subject: Creation of protected areas in the delta of the River NestosThe delta of the River Nestos is protected by the RAMSAR Convention and has been designated a specially protected area by Directive 79/409/EEC ((OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.)). Under the terms of both the Convention and the Directive, protection areas (A, B and C) must be set up by Presidential Decree. However, so far only a joint ministerial decision has been taken which fails to include the areas proposed to the Greek authorities and the European Union after lengthy research. The Greek authorities have proposed protection areas that are smaller than those originally proposed.Since the delta of the River Nestos is a vital part of Greece's environmental heritage, will the Commission say:1. whether it is aware of these circumstances;2. how it intends to act in order effectively to protect the delta;3. whether the relevant authorities have respected the criteria for the classification of protection areas; and4. whether the Greek authorities are violating Directive 79/409/EEC, and if so, what measures it intends to take?Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (30 May 1997)1. The Greek authorities have indeed designated the Nestos Delta as a special protection area (SPA) in accordance with Article 4 of the Birds Directive 79/409/EEC ((OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, as amended by Directive 91/244/EEC, OJ L 115, 8.5.1991. )). They have also proposed the Nestos Delta as a site of Community importance (SCI) for the Natura 2000 network under the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC ((OJ L 206, 22.7.1992. )) for a larger area than that designated as an SPA. However, the Commission does not have any information about the creation of protection areas within the SPA. This kind of subdivision is not provided for in the above two directives.2. The protection of sites classified as SPA and of the SCI proposed for the Natura 2000 network is the responsibility of the Member States. The Commission takes action only if it has information which shows that the above Directives may have been violated.3. and 4. If it is found that the Birds Directive has been infringed, the Commission will take the necessary measures to ensure that Greece fulfils its obligations under that Directive.Under the Habitat Directive, Community protection of the site will not take effect until the list of sites for the Mediterranean biogeographical region has been adopted. The sites proposed by Greece are being assessed with the scientific support of the European Environment Agency.