WRITTEN QUESTION E-2100/01 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Protection of biodiversity by preventing and decreasing climate change.
Date: 2001-07-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU environmental policy, biodiversity, bird, climate change, environmental impact, protection of animal life

C 81 E/106

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

(2002/C 81 E/126)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2098/01

by Pat Gallagher (UEN) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Erasmus students in Connaught, Ulster

Can the Commission provide information regarding the number of students from Connaught, Ulster who
have benefited from the EU-backed Erasmus scheme?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(10 September 2001)

The Community student mobility scheme, Erasmus, offers students studying for a degree in one of the
Member States the possibility to spend from three months to a year studying abroad in another
participating country (Member State or Associated Country).

Neither the Commission nor the National Agencies, which manage the Erasmus mobility action at national
level, register information on the origin of the Erasmus students, except for information on nationality,
which is a prerequisite for participation. The Commission therefore regrets that it is not possible to
provide the Honourable Member with the requested information on the number of students from
Connaught (Ulster) who have benefited from the scheme.

(2002/C 81 E/127)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2100/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Protection of biodiversity by preventing and decreasing climate change

1.
Is the Commission aware of the report in (cid:145)Nature(cid:146), vol 411, pp. 296-298, 17 May 2001, concerning
problems caused to pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) by changes in the climate? The reason for this
question is that these birds have adjusted to warmer springs in the Netherlands, where they breed after
migration from African wintering grounds, by laying their eggs an average of 10 days earlier than their
previous point in mid-May, allowing chicks to take advantage of an earlier abundance of insects. However,
they have not correspondingly adjusted the timing of their return from Africa. Whereas they used to arrive
three weeks before they began laying, giving themselves time to recover from their long journey, they now
start laying immediately on arrival. This reduces the number of offspring the birds can rear and may lead
to the death of exhausted birds. Scientists consider that climate change is a likely factor in the recent
decline in the populations of many migratory species, and that this indicates a possible broader problem,
with natural ecological communities being destroyed as the relationship between predators, prey and the
wider environment is disrupted.

2.
Does the Commission believe these concerns are justified, and if so what action does it intend to take
or propose to protect the biodiversity of the territory of the European Union from threats related to
climate change?

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

(17 October 2001)

The Commission is aware of the mounting evidence on the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and
on its possible long-term consequences. The report in (cid:145)Nature(cid:146) of vol 411, pp.296-298, 17 May 2001
provides valuable additional information on this issue.

4.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/107

Recent studies show that it is possible to detect effects of a changing climate on ecosystems. This suggests
that global change is a current threat to conservation and biodiversity and that this threat will become
more pronounced in the future. Serious impact can be expected on the distribution of species and habitats
and will cause major disruptions on the distribution, composition and dynamics of many ecosystems.
Climate change is already one of the causes of coral bleaching around the world with serious direct impact
on the biodiversity both of the coral reefs themselves and of some high seas fish whose populations
depend on the reefs during parts of their life cycle. This is therefore one of the main reasons why we must
address climate change.

Our policy regarding climate change and biodiversity is based on the following elements:

(cid:129) putting measures in place in line with the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gasses and thus

minimise, as far as possible, climate change,

(cid:129) ensuring that mitigation initiatives taken in the light of the Kyoto Protocol, in particular regarding
deforestation, afforestation and reforestation, are conducive to the conservation and sustainable use of
biological diversity,

(cid:129) integrating biodiversity considerations in the establishment and the implementation of adaptation

measures referred to in the Kyoto Protocol, and

(cid:129) promoting the implementation of Decision IV/15 of the Conference of the Parties of the Convention
on Biological Diversity (1), which calls for closer co-operation with the Framework Convention on
Climate Change (2).

(1) http://www.biodiv.org/convention/partners-background.asp?lg=0.
(2) http://www.unfccc.de/.

(2002/C 81 E/128)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2101/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Trade in parrots and other exotic birds and banning the import of CITES-listed species

Is the Commission aware of the report in the (cid:145)New Scientist(cid:146) of 9 June 2001, which begins with the

1.
words (cid:145)The pet trade is driving parrots to extinction(cid:146)?

2.
Is it aware that the report goes on to blame, inter alia, the European Community and its Member
States for failing to implement laws that could stop the import of exotic birds taken illegally from the wild,
notably parrots?

3.
Does the Commission share my concern at the findings of research biologists who have discovered
that 30 % of the nests of New World parrots are destroyed by poachers and that for four endangered
species of parrot the figure was 70 %?

4.
Does it further share my concern at the findings of a separate study, reported in the same article, that
shows that the illegal trade in exotic birds flourishes largely as the result of the existence of a massive legal
trade which provides it with a smokescreen behind which to hide?

5.
Does the Commission agree that the European Union and its Member States should follow the
example of the 1992 United States Wild Bird Conservation Act and ban completely the import of CITES-
listed species?