WRITTEN QUESTION E-3035/02 by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Council. Nature conservation in Malta.
Date: 2002-10-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community acquis, Malta, accession negotiations, biotope, environmental law, environmental protection, protection of animal life, protection of plant life, transitional period (EU)

12.6.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 137 E/149

Answer given by Mr. Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(10 December 2002)

The study cited by the Honourable Member examines the economic impact of the Structural Funds on the
regions eligible under Objective 1. Contrary to the conclusion drawn by the Honourable member, the study
does not call
into the question the fact that the eligible regions benefit in full from the resources
transferred under the Structural Funds. In terms of the economic impact of these resources, it is estimated
that over the period 2000-2006 European support under the Structural Funds will contribute some 0,4 %
per year to income (GDP) growth in Greece and Portugal, the two major beneficiaries.

The study also examines the second-round effects of the Structural Funds. The second-round effects exist
because some of the new plant, equipment and services made available to the eligible regions are imported
from other parts of the Union. It is a reflection of patterns of trade between the Member States of the
Union in the framework of the Single Market. On average, the study found that such imports equate to
24,2 % of the direct expenditures in the eligible regions.

The improvement to the capital stock brought about by the intervention of the Structural Funds means
that the long-term productive capacity of the regions is enhanced. In this way, the Structural Funds have
lasting benefits. Investment as a percentage of GDP would be up to one fifth lower in the eligible regions
in the absence of the Structural Funds.

The authorities in the Member States regions are currently in the process of carrying out a mid-term
the programming period, 2000-2006.
evaluation of what has been achieved in the first part of
These evaluations will be finalised a the end of 2003 and will form the basis for possible adjustments to
programmes in 2004. The purpose is to ensure that the interventions are as effective as possible and
adapted to changing circumstances.

(2003/C 137 E/170)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3035/02

by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Council

(24 October 2002)

Subject: Nature conservation in Malta

On 31 March 1998 accession negotiations were started with six applicant countries (cid:1) Hungary, Poland,
Estonia, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Cyprus. On 13 October 1999 the Commission recommended
Member States to open negotiations with Romania, the Slovak Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria and
Malta. Nature conservation legislation, such as the Wild Birds and Habitats Directives, is included in the list
of priority tasks. The EU has underlined from the very beginning of the negotiations that transitional
measures will not be granted on nature conservation.

Recently the Times of Malta (22 August 2002) reported that Malta had managed to reach agreement with
the Commission that would guarantee that the tradition of hunting and trapping of songbirds would
remain alive and sustainable.

Can the Council confirm that no exemptions or transitional measures have been granted to the

1.
accession countries concerning the Wild Birds and Habitats Directives?

Can the Council confirm that an agreement has been reached with Malta allowing hunting and

2.
trapping of songbirds after accession?

If exemptions or transitional measures have been granted how, when and by whom was this decided

3.
and how and when did the Council inform the European Parliament about this agreement?

If they have, which provisions of the Wild Birds Directive are affected by the transitional measures

4.
concerned?

Can the Council confirm that it will closely monitor the situation in the accession countries as

5.
regards the correct implementation and effective enforcement of the Wild Birds and Habitats Directives?

C 137 E/150

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

12.6.2003

Reply

(18 February 2003)

As the Honourable Member is certainly aware, the accession negotiations on the Environment chapter
have been provisionally closed within intergovernmental Accession Conferences with all ten Laeken
candidates (Cyprus, Malta, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic and
Slovenia). In this context, the EU has consistently underlined the importance for the candidate countries to
pay early attention to nature protection legislation. Furthermore, any transitional periods accepted by the
Union in the area of the environment have been in line with the Union’s general position that ‘transitional
measures are exceptional, limited in time and scope and accompanied by a plan with clearly defined stages
for application. They must not involve amendments to the rules or policies of the Union, disrupt their
proper functioning or lead to significant distortions of competition.’

No derogation or transitional periods have been granted to the candidate countries as regards Directive
92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora.

With regard to Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds, the only transitional period
regarding this Directive has been granted to Malta, concerning the implementation of Articles 5(a), 5(e),
8(1) and Annex IV(a). This allows Malta to employ traditional nets known as clap-nets within the Maltese
islands exclusively for the trapping of seven species of finches until 31 December 2008 for the purpose of
keeping them in captivity. The EU underlines that the measures taken during the transitional period should
be in full accordance with the principles governing the timing of hunting of migratory bird species as
outlined in the Directive. These principles include the ecologically balanced control of
the species
concerned, in particular migratory species which are not to be hunted during their return to the rearing
grounds. At the end of the transitional period, Directive 79/409/EEC will have to be implemented by Malta
in full.

As with every candidate,
implementation of the acquis.

the Union will closely monitor Malta’s progress in the adoption and

(2003/C 137 E/171)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3040/02

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(24 October 2002)

Subject: The interim revision of the CAP and the new system of direct aids

The interim revision of the CAP, as proposed by the Commission, will introduce major changes into the
system of granting direct aids: aid will be decoupled from production, with the creation of a single income
support system based on historical criteria, while the proposal on modulation will have the primary effect
of transferring funding between the first and second pillars of the CAP.

In the face of widespread opposition on the part of both farmers’ organisations in the EU and several
Member States, Commissioner Fischler decided to visit a number of Member State capitals with the
intention of explaining the merits of his reform. On 3 July 2002 in Lisbon, confronted with demonstrating
farmers and being made aware that several Portuguese farmers’ organisations were opposed to the
proposed reform, the Commissioner said that Portugal is one of the Member States which receive least
from the CAP and that the reform, rather than making things worse, would ensure that ‘Portugal will get
more money from the EC’s agricultural budget’.

Given the above:

(cid:1) Can the Commission state what data this affirmation was based on?

(cid:1) Does the Commission not consider that

the historical criteria are liable to perpetuate existing
inequalities in the distribution of aid between producers and Member States? What is its answer to the