WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1963/97 by Undine-Uta BLOCH von BLOTTNITZ to the Commission. EU species protection legislation and the situation of migratory birds
Date: 1997-06-09
Institutions: BLOCH VON BLOTTNITZ, European Parliament
Subjects: EU aid, EU financial instrument, bird, environmental protection, infringement procedure (EU), national implementing measure, protected area, protection of animals, quality of the environment, wildlife

C 45/130

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

10. 2. 98

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(3 July 1997)

Over ECU 200 000 has been authorised for specific economic and monetary union (EMU) euro-related projects
in the United Kingdom, mainly in response to requests from the non-governmental sector. However, the former
British government decided that a national information campaign on this subject was inappropriate in advance of
a decision by the United Kingdom to join EMU, and the Commission has been careful to respect that decision. In
other Member States, however, the Commission has been pleased to enter into joint actions with governments to
provide information.

This accounts for the difference in size of the funding allocated to the United Kingdom and the other Member
States.

(98/C 45/167)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1963/97

by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz (V) to the Commission

(9 June 1997)

Subject: EU species protection legislation and the situation of migratory birds

In  Europe  migratory  birds  are  severely  endangered.  Ornithologists  have  recently  pointed  out  that  since  the
beginning of the 20th century populations of the 70 indigenous species of migratory birds have declined by 70%.
They consider that the wide-ranging impact of humans on the ecosystem is responsible for this situation. The
experts(cid:146) main criticisms are directed at the loss of valuable habitats, the lack of adequate resting areas, the use of
pesticides and other environmental toxins and the hunting of animals.

1. What steps has the Commission taken to improve significantly the situation of these endangered species of
migratory birds?

2.
Does the Commission consider the efforts of the European Union in the field of environmental and species
protection to be adequate in view of the tardy or sometimes non-existent transposition of EU environmental and
species protection legislation in the Member States?

3.

How does the Commission intend to improve the situation as regards the transposition of legislation?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(7 July 1997)

In its coordinating role the Commission monitors progress by the Member States responsible for implementing
Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds (1). The Community provides financial support
under Regulation (EC) No 1404/96 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1973/92 establishing a financial instrument
for  the  environment (2)  to  assist  conservation  actions  for  endangered  bird  species  and  their  habitats  in  areas
classified  as  special  protection  areas  under  Directive  79/409/EEC.  Under  this  regulation  action  plans  have
recently been prepared for globally threatened bird species in Europe.

The Commission is of the view that many Member States have not yet respected all their obligations under this
directive, particularly with regard to a sufficient level of classification as special protection areas of the most
suitable territories for endangered bird species listed in Annex I as well as for migratory bird species.

The  Commission  opens  legal  proceedings  under  Article  169  of  the  EC  Treaty  where  there  is  evidence  that
Member  States  are  failing  to  respect  their  obligations  under  this  directive.  There  are  at  present  proceedings
against several Member States for failure to provide a sufficient number and area of special protection areas.

(1)  OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(2)  OJ L 181, 20.7.1996.