WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2751/97 by Kyösti VIRRANKOSKI to the Commission. Preparation of Finland's Natura 2000 programme
Date: 1997-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, VIRRANKOSKI
Subjects: EU programme, Finland, environmental protection, land use, protected area, protection of animal life, protection of plant life

C 102/110

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

3. 4. 98

As regards the manner in which on-farm inspections and audits of Member State expenditure is conducted, the
Commission expects its officials to show courtesy at all times to all parties, whilst maintaining a clear view of
audit objectives. Generally, given that their findings must be communicated firstly to superiors but also to protect
the rights of individuals involved in claiming agricultural subsidies, Commission officials are under instructions
not to attract undue press attention in the course of their audits.

(98/C 102/159)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2751/97

by Kyo¤sti Virrankoski (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 September 1997)

Subject: Preparation of Finland(cid:146)s Natura 2000 programme

In Finland the Environment Ministry(cid:146)s proposal concerning the areas of countryside to be included in the Natura
2000 programme has been on display for the benefit of land owners and local authorities.

It is not clear from the proposal what restrictions on land use would be entailed by inclusion in the Natura 2000
programme nor is any definition provided of the specific areas to which restrictions would apply.

Does  the  Commission  believe  that  clear  restrictions  on  land  use  do  not  need  to  be  explained  either  to  local
authorities or individual land owners any more than the area to which restrictions will apply?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(18 September 1997)

The Natura 2000 network was established under the so-called (cid:145)Habitats(cid:146) Directive (1). This provides for three
stages:

›  each Member State will put forward a list of sites on the basis of scientific criteria in pursuance of Annexes I,

II and III to the Directive (before June 1995);

› 

in  agreement  with  the  Member  States  the  Commission  will  draw  up  a  list  of  sites  of  Community-wide
importance (before June 1998);

›  each Member State will designate the sites adopted as special conservation areas as quickly as possible (by at

the latest June 2006).

The Member States will introduce the conservation measures that are needed for the sites adopted when these are
designated as special conservation areas (Article 6(1)). In addition, since these are sites set out in the list of sites
of Community-wide importance,  they will  take  appropriate action  in  order  to  avoid  habitat  deterioration  and
disturbances affecting protected species, and in order to subject any plan or project that is likely to affect a site to
a  significant  degree  to  an  appropriate  assessment  of  its  impact  on  the  site  (Article  6(2),  (3)  and  (4),  in
combination with Article 4(5).

It is thus up to each Member State to decide precisely when it wishes to describe any possible limitations on land
use in detail, provided that such action is in line with Articles 4, paragraphs 5 and 6 of the (cid:145)Habitats(cid:146) Directive.

In any case the introduction of such management measures should not slow down Stage 1 › currently in progress
in Finland › which must be based exclusively on scientific criteria.

(1)  Council Directive 92/43/EEC, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.