WRITTEN QUESTION E-2370/99 by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Twenty years of protection of birds in the European Union.
Date: 1999-12-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Council of the European Union, EC Directive, application of EU law, application of the law, international convention, protection of animal life

3.10.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 280 E/33

The cross-sectoral nature of climate change requires a broad integrated approach. Thus, the Commissioner
in charge of the Environment in October 1999 announced the launching of a European climate change
programme (ECCP) which is currently being prepared. Energy and transport must play a central role within
the ECCP. The Commission is currently preparing a communication to list measures on climate change, as
requested by the Environment Council of 12 October 1999.

Regarding transport, the Commission has already in the past made proposals that would, if adopted, have
a beneficial effect in respect of climate change, for example the proposed package on rail revitalisation that
is currently being discussed in the Council. However, action must go beyond these measures if the
Community(cid:146)s Kyoto target is to be met.

The existing measures on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from cars (voluntary agreements with the car
industry and measures on monitoring and labelling) should be complemented by fiscal measures in order
to achieve the target of CO2 emissions of 120 grammes per kilometre (g/km) by 2005-2010. The
Commission is currently thinking about extending the concept of environmentally enhanced vehicles
(EEV) to also include CO2 emissions, and to go beyond heavy duty vehicles. Renewable fuels must be
considered in more detail, including the definition of common standards and distribution systems across
the Community and the prevention of adverse effects in other fields, such as in air quality. Measures in air
transport, as laid out in the communication on air transport and the environment (3), should include
environmental charges for flights and, possibly, voluntary agreements by the industry. The taxation of
aircraft fuel, which is desirable in principle, must in practice await a legal situation on the international
level that allows its introduction.

An existing proposal
for a directive on restructuring the
Community framework for the taxation of energy products. Beyond this, however, closer co-operation
on strategic goals between energy and environment is essential.

for developing sustainable energy is that

The Community strategy will need to focus increasingly on the conservation and more efficient use of
energy; the promotion and development of renewable energies and new technologies; delinking energy
growth from growth in national output; and on reducing and eventually removing subsidies and other aids
to fossil fuel use. In this context measures with substantive national targets and with clear deadlines for
both energy efficiency and renewables should be pursued. Access to electricity grids for renewable sources
of electricity as set out in the Commission(cid:146)s latest proposal and the campaign take-off are important
elements in meeting the objective of doubling the current share of renewables in energy consumption to
12 % by 2010. There is now a need for measures to promote the penetration of co-generation in order to
meet the target of doubling current levels by 2010 to 18 %. Intensive work on the demand side of energy
such as energy labelling, energy services, and minimum energy efficiency standards in the framework of an
action plan on energy efficiency needs to be launched in 2000.

Press Release No 13573/99.
Press Release No 13572/99.

(1)
(2)
(3) COM(99) 640.

(2000/C 280 E/032)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2370/99

by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(16 December 1999)

Subject: Twenty years of protection of birds in the European Union

The EU(cid:146)s directive on the protection of birds and the Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory
Species of Wild Animals are milestones in nature protection legislation. Twenty years on, it is time to draw
a balance.

C 280 E/34

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.10.2000

1.

Can the Commission say whether these legal instruments have achieved their purpose?

Are there any shortcomings in transposition of the directive and the Convention? If so, in what

2.
respect?

How well have the Member States and the signatories to the Bonn Convention satisfied the
3.
in particular the requirements under the EU directive concerning designating special
requirements,
protection areas, transposing the provisions on the protection of species and the obligation to report to
the Commission?

4. What has been, and is, the role of non-governmental organisations and associations in transposing
the directive and the Convention? In what way could they increase their influence?

How can transposition of the directive and the Convention be made more effective? What role could

5.
the non-governmental organisations and associations play with their expertise?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(2 February 2000)

The objectives of the Bonn Convention, to which the Community is a party, as regards the
1.
conservation of migratory bird species are achieved at Community level by Council Directive 79/409/EEC
of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (1). Despite significant achievements over the past
20 years, the objectives of the Birds Directive are still not fully realised.

2. Whereas there are still some problems with national
Member States, the main problems relate to implementation regarding site protection.

legislation fixing hunting seasons in a few

3.
According to scientific references, only Denmark and Belgium are considered to have largely
completed the key objective of classifying their most suitable territories as special protection areas (SPAs).
Other Member States have still to complete this process. Some Member States, including Germany, have
failed to provide the necessary information on their classified SPAs, thus preventing the Commission from
carrying out its co-ordinating role as regards the network of SPAs. There are currently 47 infringements
cases being pursued for non-implementation of the Directive.

4.
The non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play a key role in assisting the implementation of the
Directive. This includes the scientific work on bird species, their habitats and sites, as well as ongoing
monitoring and management of important areas.

5.
The main challenge is to ensure complete implementation and enforcement by the Member States.
The Commission, as guardian of the EC Treaty will play its full role in partnership with the Member States
and the NGOs. The LIFE-Nature fund should also continue to play an important role in supporting key
conservation projects for endangered and migratory bird species.

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.