WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3293/98 by María ESTEVAN BOLEA to the Commission. Endangered bird species
Date: 1998-11-09
Institutions: ESTEVAN BOLEA, European Parliament
Subjects: EU Member State, EU financing, bird, protected species, protection of animals













EUR-Lex - 91998E3293 - EN






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91998E3293

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3293/98 by María ESTEVAN BOLEA to the Commission. Endangered bird species  


Official Journal C 182 , 28/06/1999 P. 0058 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3293/98by María Estevan Bolea (PPE) to the Commission(9 November 1998)Subject: Endangered bird speciesThe threat of extinction hovering over a large number of bird species in the EC is a universally known problem. Birds are essential to the balance and the future of the ecosystems which they inhabit, given that they are frequently responsible for pollination and the dispersal of seeds and fruit, as well as keeping insect numbers under control. It is estimated that three-quarters of the bird population is threatened by the progressive deterioration of their habitats, due largely to human activity.Can the Commission provide information on the numbers of birds threatened in the EC, both as a whole and broken down by Member State, as well as in the applicant countries?What instruments is the Commission making use of, apart from the special bird protection zones and Council Directive 79/409/EEC(1), to reduce the threats and pressures hanging over these species?Has the Commission carried out studies of the state of the various bird populations under threat?Is there any heading in the draft budget for the forthcoming year dedicated exclusively to the preservation of endangered bird species?Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission(26 November 1998)Annex 1 to Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the preservation of wild birds lists 181 species and sub-species of birds considered to be in danger or vulnerable within the territory of the Community. Scientific studies of European bird species are also useful to the Commission, in particular the study undertaken in 1994 by Birdlife, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), entitled "Birds in Europe - Their conservation status." This study highlights the status of species endangered throughout Europe, covering the Member States and the countries that have applied for accession.Under the Life-Nature programme the Commission has in recent years co-financed bird species preservation projects. In awarding Life-Nature financing, priority has been given to the most endangered species or sub-species in accordance with the list compiled by the ORNIS Committee on the basis of the degree of endangerment of these species. The Commission has also co-financed the drawing-up of action plans for most of the bird species or sub-species on this list. These plans are an important technical instrument for taking the most appropriate preservation measures. They are also highly useful for the subsequent compilation of national plans and for the evaluation of measures forming part of projects submitted to obtain Life-Nature co-financing.The action plans are also intended to monitor trends in populations of endangered bird species.As in previous years the Life-Nature programme will also be available in 1999 for Community co-financing of bird species preservation projects.(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.