WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3893/97 by Gerardo FERNÁNDEZ-ALBOR to the Commission. European Union forestry strategy
Date: 1997-12-11
Institutions: European Parliament, FERNANDEZ ALBOR
Subjects: approximation of laws, consolidation of EU law, forest conservation, forestry development, forestry economics, forestry legislation, forestry policy, national law, protection of plant life

C 187/78

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

16. 6. 98

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(2 February 1998)

Inn its opinion on the Czech Republic(cid:146)s application for membership of July 1997, the Commission concluded
that  the  Czech  authorities  should  address,  among  other  issues,  the  situation  of  Roma  in  their  country.  In  the
opinions on a number of other applicant countries the Commission drew similar conclusions.

The Community assists the associated countries to prepare for membership through its pre-accession strategy, in
which  the  Phare  programme  plays  a  central  role.  This  programme  contains  a  number  of  projects  which
specifically address human rights questions and the situation of minorities, including Roma.

The Commission will continue to closely follow the situation concerning human rights and minorities in each of
the associated countries. In the case of the Czech Republic this implies also a close monitoring of the programme
adopted by the Czech government on 29 October 1997 to improve the situation of Roma. At the same time the
Commission will continue to assist these countries in addressing effectively the short-comings in these areas
identified in the opinions through the Phare programme.

(98/C 187/123)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3893/97

by Gerardo Ferna·ndez-Albor (PPE) to the Commission

(11 December 1997)

Subject: European Union forestry strategy

A range of national programmes exists for extending public ownership of forests and subsidizing private owners
with  a  view  to  achieving  sustainable  maintenance  of  forests.  The  goal  is  to  significantly  increase  Europe(cid:146)s
forestry reserves.

However, we should remember that despite these good intentions, in many countries these protected forests are
left to survive as best they can, since the conservation legislation provided for them is old and out of date. For that
reason, the new Community forest strategy should provide incentives not only for publicly and privately owned
forests, but also seek to update legislation on the conservation of protected forests at Community level.

What  is  the  current  stage  of  consolidation  with  regard  to  the  Community  forestry  strategy  and  what  are  the
current plans for developing the future of the Community(cid:146)s forests, both public and private, with regard to the
conservation and extension of the area under trees?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(13 January 1998)

The Commission attaches a great deal of importance to conserving and protecting the forest resources of the
Community and it would like to assure the Honourable Member that this concern will play a central role in its
proposals for the future forestry strategy.

It is worth pointing out, however, that legislation on forests and woodland falls within the competence of the
Member States.

(98/C 187/124)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3894/97

by Gerardo Ferna·ndez-Albor (PPE) to the Commission

(11 December 1997)

Subject: Commission promotion of specific studies

Specific studies are extremely important in providing back-up for individual Community policies, based as the
latter are on their results. Such studies, are frequently drawn up, on the basis of specific selection criteria, by
bodies or groups outwith the Commission.