WRITTEN QUESTION P-1087/04 by Kyösti Virrankoski (ELDR) to the Commission. Uncertainties regarding Finland's Natura 2000 network.
Date: 2004-04-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU environmental policy, Finland, environmental protection, exchange of information, protected area, statistics

C 84 E/944

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

(2004/C 84 E/1042)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1087/04

by Kyösti Virrankoski (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Uncertainties regarding Finland’s Natura 2000 network

(5 April 2004)

The Finnish Government has on several occasions forwarded material to the Commission concerning the
Natura 2000 network which is to be established. Most recently the government took a decision on this on
22 January 2004. In its decision of that date it stated that Finland’s Natura 2000 network comprised 1 806
areas.

According to information provided by the Commission last year, however, Finland’s Natura 2000 network
was to comprise 1 832 areas. Moreover, again according to the Commission, their combined surface area
was 1 239 000 hectares greater than decided by the Finnish Government.

According to the information currently available to the Commission, how many Natura 2000 network
areas are there in Finland and what is their combined area?

How is it possible that the Commission’s information does not correspond to the decisions of the Finnish
Government?

What will the Commission do to bring its data into line with the decisions of the Finnish Government?

If the Commission adopts Finland’s Natura 2000 network on the basis of contradictory material, will the
legally binding decision comprise those areas designated by the Commission in its decision or those areas
which the Finnish Government has proposed?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(28 April 2004)

The Commission is investigating the differences identified with the Finnish authorities and undertakes to
ensure that there are no discrepancies prior to the formal Commission decision on the Natura 2000 list for
the Boreal region, which is programmed for later in 2004.

In relation to the discrepancies, these may arise from corrections in the data bases and consolidation of
some overlaps by the Finnish authorities which have yet to be fully incorporated within the Commission
figures.

The Commission will, after verification with the Finnish authorities, inform the Parliament of the latest
updated and agreed figures.

(2004/C 84 E/1043)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1093/04

by Armin Laschet (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 April 2004)

Subject: Staging of football matches between TSV Alemannia Aachen, a German football club, and foreign

opponents at the Kerkrade Stadium in the Netherlands

It is highly likely that the German football club TSV Alemannia Aachen will shortly be involved in
international matches, for example in the UEFA Cup. Since, however, the Aachen Stadium is not equipped
with the 80 % seating capacity prescribed by UEFA for such international fixtures, the club will be obliged
to seek an alternative stadium in which to play its matches.

The nearest stadium which meets the UEFA criteria is located just 10 km away in Kerkrade in the
Netherlands. On the other hand, the nearest such stadium in Germany is 80 km away. According to UEFA,
a German club must play its matches in a stadium in Germany.