Proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the Protocol on Mountain Farming attached to the Alpine Convention
Date: 2006-04-25
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Alpine Region, environmental protection, hill farming, protocol to an agreement, regional farm policy, sustainable development

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 25.4.2006 
COM(2006) 170 final 

2006/0059 (CNS) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community,  
of the Protocol on Mountain Farming attached to the Alpine Convention 

(presented by the Commission) 

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1. 

BACKGROUND 

The  Convention  on  the  Protection  of  the  Alps,  the  Alpine  Convention,  was  signed  by  the 
European Community at Salzburg on 7 November 1991, and by Council Decision 96/191/EC 
of 26 February 19961 the Community ratified the Convention, which finally entered into force 
on  4  April  1998.  The  other  Contracting  Parties  are  Austria,  France,  Germany,  Italy, 
Liechtenstein, Monaco, Slovenia and Switzerland. 

The reasons for the Council Decision are still valid. They are the following: 

(1) 

(2) 

the conclusion of the Convention forms part of the involvement of the Community in 
the international activities on the protection of the environment recommended in the 
fifth Programme of Action (1992) by the European Communities on the Environment 
and 

the  protection  of  the  Alps  is  a  major  challenge  to  all  Member  States  owing  to  the 
cross-frontier  nature  of  the  economic,  social  and  ecological  problems  of  the  Alpine 
area. 

Pursuant to Article 2(2) and (3) of the Alpine Convention, concrete measures to achieve these 
goals  are  laid  down  in  different  Protocols,  such  as  the  Protocol  on  Mountain  Farming.  By 
ratifying  the  Alpine  Convention,  the  EC  is  committed  to  fulfil  the  obligations  of  this 
Convention. 

The signature and ratification of the Protocol on Mountain Farming fit within the framework 
of the agricultural policy of the European Community, in particular with Articles 36 and 37 of 
the EC Treaty. 

2. 

THE COMMUNITY AND THE PROTOCOL ON MOUNTAIN FARMING 

The  European  Commission  took  part  in  the  negotiation  of  the  Mountain  Farming  Protocol, 
which is greatly influenced by Community policies and legislation. The Protocol has already 
been initialled by the EC at the Ministerial Conference of the Alpine Convention at Chambéry 
on 20 December 1994. The Commission’s involvement in regional conventions like the Alpine 
Convention  has  been  limited  in  the  last  ten  years;  this  explains  the  delay  in  proposing  a 
ratification of the Protocol. 

Under the overarching goal of sustainable development the aim of the Protocol on Mountain 
Farming, provided for in Article 1, is to ensure and promote appropriate and environmentally 
friendly  agriculture  in  the  Alpine  region  as  an  essential  contribution  to  the  maintenance  of 
populated  sites  and  sustainable  economic  activities.  This  includes  producing  typical  high-
quality  produce,  safeguarding  the  natural  environment,  protecting  against  natural  risks  and 
conserving the beauty and the value the landscape. Contracting Parties are required to optimise 
the multifunctional role of mountain farming. 

Measures  provided  for  in  the  Protocol  on  Mountain  Farming,  such  as  encouragement  of 
mountain  farming  and  improvement  of  living  conditions,  land  use,  nature-friendly  farming, 

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OJ L 61, 12.3.1996, p. 31. 

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promotion  and  marketing  and  forestry  measures,  are  in  line  with  EU  agricultural  legislation 
and policy as well as with current developments. 

Agenda 2000 established rural development policy as the 2nd pillar of the common agricultural 
policy and therefore Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for 
rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)2 
became  part  of  it.  The  Regulation  contains  specific  provisions  for  support  for  less-favoured 
areas  as  well  as  agri-environmental  measures  which  have  developed  into  a  key  part  of  the 
2nd pillar. These measures are, on the one hand, related to productive land management, such 
as actions in the areas of special biodiversity/nature interest, genetic diversity concerning local 
breeds indigenous to the area, preventing erosion and fire, the maintenance of farming systems 
characteristic  of  the  traditional  landscape,  and  on  the  other  hand  measures  related  to  non-
productive land management, such as maintenance of the countryside and landscape features. 

The  future  rural-development  policy  from  2007  as  defined  by  Council  Regulation  (EC) 
No 1698/2005  of  20  September  2005  on  support  for  rural  development  by  the  European 
Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)3 and the Council Decision on Community 
strategic guidelines for Rural Development (Programming period 2007–2013) focuses on three 
key  areas:  the  agrifood  economy,  the  environment  and  the  broader  rural  economy  and 
population. The new generation of rural development strategies and programmes will be built 
around  a  competitiveness  axis  for  agriculture,  food  and  forestry,  a  land  management-
environment axis and a quality of life/diversification axis in rural areas and will respond to the 
economic, social and environmental challenges facing mountain regions.  

Under the competitiveness axis a range of measures will target human and physical capital in 
the agriculture, food and forestry sectors (promoting knowledge transfer and innovation) and 
quality production. The land management-environmental axis provides for measures to protect 
and  enhance  natural  resources,  as  well  as  preserving  high-nature  value  farming  and  forestry 
systems and cultural landscapes of Europe’s rural areas.  

In this way, and in line with the conclusions of the Lisbon and Göteborg European Councils, 
the  future  developments  of  the  common  agricultural  policy  will  “contribute  to  achieving 
sustainable  development  by  increasing  its  emphasis  on  encouraging  healthy,  high-quality 
products,  environmentally  sustainable  production  methods,  including  organic  production, 
renewable raw materials and the protection of biodiversity”. 

3. 

CONCLUSIONS 

The  Alpine  region  is  characterised  by  its  wealth  of  natural  resources,  including  water 
resources,  agricultural  potential,  historical  and  cultural  heritage,  value  for  quality  of  life  and 
for  economic  and  leisure  activities  not  only  for  the  local  but  also  for  other  populations. 
However, the Alpine region is also characterised by difficult living and production conditions 
for farming activities due to geomorphological and climatic conditions. 

The  Alpine  Convention  together  with  its  Protocol  on  Mountain  Farming  is  an  instrument 
which  enables  the  European  Community  to  maintain  an  environmentally  friendly  mountain 
agriculture  adapted  to  this  highly  sensitive  cross-border  zone  and  indirectly  to  maintain  a 
unique  natural  and  cultural  heritage  and  a  production  of  quality  food.  It  provides  a  single 
framework to formulate a cross-border approach which integrates common aims and actions to 

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OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 80. 
OJ L 277, 21.10.2005, p. 1. 

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solve particular problems of the Alpine region. The European Community is committed to the 
objectives  of  the  Convention  and  to  the  Protocol  which  has  already  been  initialled.  Its 
ratification would confirm the EC’s commitment, would be a strong political signal and would 
strengthen  the  ecological  process  in  the  whole  region  which  is  of  high  value  for  Europe. 
Therefore the European Community should conclude the Protocol on Mountain Farming. The 
Council is invited to approve the Protocol by adopting the attached proposal for a Decision. 

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2006/0059 (CNS) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community,  
of the Protocol on Mountain Farming attached to the Alpine Convention 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  and  in  particular 
Articles 36  and  37,  in  conjunction  with  the  first  sentence  of  the  first  subparagraph  of 
Article 300(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3) thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament4, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

The Alpine region is characterised by its wealth of natural resources, including water 
resources,  agricultural  potential,  historical  and  cultural  heritage,  value  for  quality  of 
life  and  for  economic  and  leisure  activities  not  only  for  the  local,  but  also  for  other 
populations.  However,  the  Alpine  region  is  also  characterised  by  difficult  living  and 
production  conditions  for  farming  activities  due  to  geomorphological  and  climatic 
conditions. 

The  Alpine  Convention  was  signed  on  behalf  of  the  European  Community  on 
7 November 1991, ratified by Council Decision 96/191/EC of 26 February 19965 and 
entered  into  force  on  4  April  1998.  Pursuant  to  Article  2(2)  and  (3)  of  the  Alpine 
Convention,  concrete  measures  to  achieve  its  goals  are  laid  down  in  different 
Protocols, such as the Protocol on Mountain Farming. 

The  European  Commission  took  part  in  the  negotiation  of  the  Mountain  Farming 
Protocol  which  is  greatly  influenced  by  Community  policies  and  legislation.  The 
European  Community  has  initialled  the  Protocol  on  Mountain  Farming  to  the  Alpine 
Convention at Chambéry on 20 December 1994. 

Under  the  overarching  goal  of  sustainable  development  the  aim  of  the  Protocol  on 
Mountain  Farming,  provided  for  in  Article  1,  is  to  ensure  and  promote  a  form  of 
agriculture  in  the  Alpine  region  which  suits  local  conditions,  is  environmentally 
compatible and makes an essential contribution to the maintenance of populated sites 
and  sustainable  economic  activities.  This  includes  producing  typical  high-quality 
produce,  safeguarding  the  natural  environment,  protecting  against  natural  risks  and 

4 
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OJ C …, …, p. …. 
OJ L 61, 12.3.1996, p. 31. 

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conserving  the  beauty  and  the  value  of  the  traditional  countryside.  The  Contracting 
Parties should optimise the multifunctional role of mountain farming. 

Goals  and  measures  provided  in  the  Protocol  on  Mountain  Farming,  such  as 
encouragement  of  mountain  farming  and  improvement  of  living  conditions,  land  use, 
nature-friendly  farming,  promotion  and  marketing  and  forestry  measures,  are  in  line 
with  the  EU  agricultural  legislation  and  policy  and  in  particular  with  Council 
Regulation  (EC)  No  1698/2005  of  20  September  2005  on  support  for  rural 
development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)6. 

The Protocol provides a single framework to formulate a cross-border approach which 
integrates common aims and actions to solve particular problems of the Alpine region. 

The  Alpine  Convention  and  the  Protocol  on  Mountain  Farming  are  relevant  for 
13 million  inhabitants  and  nearly  6000  communities  in  an  area  of  19  million  ha.  The 
Alps are also of great importance for populations of other regions. 

The  Alpine  Convention  together  with  its  implementing  Protocols,  including  the 
Protocol  on  Mountain  Farming,  are  the  first  international  agreements  for  a  mountain 
region worldwide and serve as model for other regions. 

The  ratification  of  the  Protocol  on  Mountain  Farming  would  confirm  the  EC’s 
commitment,  would  be  a  strong  political  signal  and  would  strengthen  the  ecological 
process in the whole region which is of high value for Europe. 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

(9) 

(10) 

It is therefore appropriate to approve the Protocol on behalf of the Community, 

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 

Article 1 

The  Protocol  on  Mountain  Farming  to  the  Alpine  Convention,  initialled  at  Chambéry  on 
20 December 1994, is hereby approved on behalf of the Community. 

The text of the Protocol is set out in Annex I to this Decision.  

Article 2 

The  President  of  the  Council  is  hereby  authorised  to  designate  the  person  or  persons 
empowered to deposit, on behalf of the European Community, the instrument of approval in 
accordance with Article 24 of the Protocol and to deposit the attached declarations. 

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OJ L 277, 21.10.2005 p. 1. 

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Article 3 

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. 

Done at Brussels,  

For the Council 
The President 

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ANNEX I 

PROTOCOL ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE  
1991 ALPINE CONVENTION IN THE FIELD OF MOUNTAIN FARMING 

“MOUNTAIN FARMING” PROTOCOL 

Preamble 

The Federal Republic of Germany, 

The Republic of Austria, 

The French Republic, 

The Italian Republic, 

The Principality of Liechtenstein, 

The Principality of Monaco, 

The Republic of Slovenia, 

The Swiss Confederation, 

and 

The European Community, 

In  accordance  with  their  task,  arising  from  the  Convention  on  the  Protection  of  the  Alps 
(Alpine  Convention)  of  7  November  1991,  of  pursuing  a  comprehensive  policy  for  the 
protection and the sustainable development of the Alpine region, 

In compliance with their obligations under Article 2(2) and (3) of the Alpine Convention, 

Aware  that  it  is  incumbent  upon  them,  in  the  general  interest,  to  preserve  and  promote  the 
management  of  traditional  countryside  and  farming  which  suits  local  conditions  and  is 
environmentally compatible, taking into account the more difficult economic conditions, 

Recognising  that,  by  virtue  of  its  wealth  of  natural  resources,  water  resources,  agricultural 
potential,  historical  and  cultural  heritage,  value  for  quality  of  life  and  for  economic  and 
leisure activities in Europe and the transport routes crossing it, the Alpine region will continue 
to be of vital importance, particularly for the local population but also for the population of 
other regions, 

Convinced  that  the  local  population  must  be  able  to  determine  its  own  social,  cultural  and 
economic  development  plan  and  take  part  in  its  implementation  in  the  existing  institutional 
framework, 

Convinced  that  it  is  necessary  to  balance  the  economic  interests  and  the  environmental 
requirements, taking account of the specific features of each region and of the central role of 
farming, 

Considering  the  importance  which  farming  has  always  had  in  the  Alpine  region  and  the 
indispensable  contribution  which  this  branch  of  the  economy  makes,  and  will  continue  to 

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make, particularly in mountain regions, as an essential resource for maintaining an adequate 
population  density,  food  supply  for  the  population,  production  of  typical  high-quality 
produce, conservation and maintenance of the countryside, particularly for tourism, and, finally, 
protection of the soil against erosion, avalanches and floods, 

Recognising  that  farming  methods  and  intensity  exert  a  decisive  influence  on  nature  and 
landscapes  and  that  extensively  farmed  countryside  must  fulfil  an  essential  function  as  a 
habitat for Alpine flora and fauna, 

Recognising  the  fact  that  the  geomorphology  and  climate  of  mountain  regions  create  more 
difficult living and production conditions for farming activity, 

Convinced  that  certain  problems  can  only  be  resolved  in  a  cross-border  framework  and 
require joint measures on the part of the Alpine States and, in particular, that economic and 
social  adjustment  and  accompanying  measures  should  be  put  in  place,  at  national  and 
European level, so that the future of farmers and their farms in mountain regions is not called 
into question by the application of exclusively economic parameters, 

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS: 

CHAPTER I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 

Article l 
Objectives 

1. 

This  Protocol  lays  down  international  measures  to  preserve  and  promote  mountain 
farming  which  suits  local  conditions  and  is  environmentally  compatible;  it  aims  at 
recognising  and  securing  the  continuity  of  its  essential  contribution  to  maintaining 
the  population  and  safeguarding  sustainable  economic  activities,  particularly  by 
means  of  producing 
the  natural 
environment,  preventing  natural  risks  and  conserving  the  beauty  and  recreational 
value of nature and the countryside and of cultural life in the Alpine region. 

typical  high-quality  produce,  safeguarding 

2. 

In implementing this Protocol, the Contracting Parties shall seek to optimise all the 
functions of mountain farming. 

Article 2 
Taking account of the objectives in other policies 

The Contracting Parties undertake to take account of the objectives of  this Protocol in their 
other policies as well. 

Article 3 
Fundamental obligations in the general economic context 

The  Contracting  Parties  agree  on  the  need  to  adapt  agricultural  policy  at  all  levels,  in 
accordance  with  general  economic  policy,  to  the  requirements  for  balanced,  sustainable 
development in order to make it possible, within the framework of the given financial policy 
conditions: 

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(a) 

(b) 

to encourage, particularly in mountain regions, environmentally compatible farming 
and its functions in the general interest, as provided for in Article 7 of this Protocol; 

to  take  significant  action  against  abandonment  of  mountain  regions  and  to  ensure 
adequate living conditions there, by means of social and structural policy measures 
accompanied by a series of agricultural and environment policy measures. 

Article 4 
Role of farmers 

The  Contracting  Parties  agree  that  in  mountain  regions  in  particular  farming  has,  over  the 
centuries,  shaped  the  countryside,  giving  it  its  historical  character  and  cultural  value.  The 
essential  role  played  by  farmers  in  conservation  of  nature  and  the  countryside,  today  and 
tomorrow,  by  virtue  of  their  multiple  functions,  must  therefore  be  recognised  and  farmers 
must be associated in the decisions and measures taken for mountain regions. 

Article 5 
Participation of regional and local authorities 

1. 

2. 

Each Contracting Party shall define, within its institutional framework, the best level 
of  coordination  and  cooperation  between  the  institutions  and  regional  and  local 
authorities  directly  concerned  so  as  to  encourage  solidarity  of  responsibility,  in 
particular to exploit and develop synergies when applying mountain farming policies 
and implementing measures under them. 

The regional and local authorities directly concerned shall be parties to the various 
stages  of  preparing  and  implementing  these  policies  and  measures,  within  their 
competence and within the existing institutional framework. 

Article 6 
International cooperation 

The Contracting Parties agree: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

to  proceed  with  joint  evaluations  of  the  development  of  agricultural  policy  and  to 
guarantee reciprocal consultation before adopting any major decision on agricultural 
policy, for the purposes of implementation of this Protocol; 

to secure implementation of the objectives and measures laid down by this Protocol, 
by  means  of  transfrontier  cooperation  between  all  the  competent  authorities, 
particularly regional administrations and local authorities; 

to encourage exchanges of knowledge and experience and joint initiatives, by means 
of international cooperation between research and training institutes, agricultural and 
environmental organisations and the media. 

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CHAPTER II 
SPECIFIC MEASURES 

Article 7 
Encouragement of mountain farming 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

The Contracting Parties shall seek to differentiate agricultural policy measures at all 
levels, in accordance with the different local conditions, and to encourage mountain 
farming,  taking  account  of  the  local  natural  handicaps.  Support  shall  be  given,  in 
particular,  to  farms  ensuring  a  minimum  of  agricultural  activity  in  extreme 
locations. 

the  conservation  and 
The  contribution  which  mountain  farming  makes 
maintenance of nature and the countryside and to the prevention of natural risks, in 
the general interest, shall give rise to appropriate compensation, in the framework of 
contractual  agreements  linked  to  identified  projects  and  services  going  beyond  the 
general obligations. 

to 

Article 8 
Land use and countryside 

The  Contracting  Parties  undertake,  respecting  nature  and  the  countryside,  to  take 
account  of  the  particular  conditions  in  mountain  areas  in  the  context  of  planning, 
zoning, reorganising and improving land use. 

In  order  to  accomplish  its  multiple  tasks,  first  mountain  farming  must  have  the  land 
necessary  for  farming  which  suits  local  conditions  and  is  environmentally 
compatible. 

In  this  context,  it  is  necessary  to  ensure  conservation,  restoration  and  use  of  the 
traditional  components  of  the  countryside  (woodland,  wooded  boundaries,  hedges, 
thickets, wet, dry or low-yield pasture and Alpine pastures). 

Special  measures  shall  be  taken  for  the  conservation  of  traditional  farm  buildings 
and  rural  architecture  and  for  further  use  of  traditional  building  materials  and 
methods. 

Article 9 
Nature-friendly farming methods. Typical produce 

The  Contracting  Parties  undertake  to  adopt  all  necessary  measures  with  a  view  to  applying 
common criteria to promote employment and wider use, in mountain areas, of nature-friendly 
extensive farming methods characteristic of the area and to protect and promote typical farm 
produce, with distinctive, unique, nature-friendly production methods limited to the locality. 

Article 10 
Livestock farming suited to local conditions and genetic diversity 

1. 

The Contracting Parties agree that livestock farming suited to local conditions and to 
the available land is an essential component of mountain farming, both as a source of 
revenue  and  as  a  decisive  part  of  the  identity  of  the  countryside  and  culture. 

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Consequently,  livestock  farming,  including  traditional  domestic  animal  husbandry, 
must  be  maintained,  with  its  characteristic  variety  of  species  and  typical  produce; 
such  husbandry  must  be  suited  to  local  conditions  and  to  the  available  land  and 
compatible with the environment. 

To this end, the necessary farming, pasture and forestry facilities shall be maintained, 
keeping a balance between pasture and livestock which suits local conditions, in the 
context of suitable, extensive grassland farming. 

Measures  shall  also  be  adopted  to  maintain  the  genetic  diversity  of  livestock  and 
crops, particularly in the field of agricultural research and advisory services. 

Article 11 
Promotion and marketing 

The Contracting Parties shall seek to create conditions conducive to the marketing of 
mountain farm produce, with a view to increasing sales on the spot and making such 
produce more competitive on national and international markets. 

Promotion  shall  take  the  form,  inter  alia,  of  guarantees  of  origin  and  of  quality, 
allowing protection of producers and consumers alike. 

2. 

3. 

1. 

2. 

Article 12 
Limitation of production 

In  case  of  limitation  of  agricultural  production,  the  Contracting  Parties  shall  seek  to  take 
account  of  the  specific  requirements,  in  mountain  areas,  for  farming  which  suits  local 
conditions and is environmentally compatible. 

Article 13 
Complementary nature of farming and forestry 

The  Contracting  Parties  agree  that  the  complementary  nature  and  partial  interdependence  of 
farming and forestry in mountain areas necessitate an integrated approach. Consequently, they 
shall encourage: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

forestry compatible with nature both as an additional source of revenue for farms and 
as a sideline activity for farm workers; 

consideration  of  the  protective,  productive  and  recreational  as  well  as  the 
environmental  and  biogenetic  functions  of  forests,  in  relation  to  farmland,  taking 
account of the specific local conditions and in harmony with the countryside; 

regulation of grassland farming and of the game population, to avoid any intolerable 
damage to forests and crops. 

Article 14 
Additional sources of income 

Recognising  the  traditional  importance  of  family  farms  in  mountain  farming,  in  order  to 
support family farms as an economic activity - whether principal, secondary or sideline - the 
Contracting  Parties  shall  encourage  the  creation  and  development  of  additional  sources  of 

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income in mountain areas, particularly on the initiative and in favour of the local population 
itself, notably in sectors linked to agriculture, such as forestry, tourism and crafts, in harmony 
with conservation of nature and the countryside. 

Article 15 
Improvement of living and working conditions 

The Contracting Parties shall encourage reinforcement and improvement of the quality of the 
services  indispensable  in  order  to  overcome  the  unfavourable  conditions  faced  by  farm  and 
forestry workers in mountain areas in order to link improvement of their living and working 
conditions to economic and social development in other fields and in other parts of the Alpine 
region.  To  this  end,  the  decision-making  criteria  must  not  be  purely  economic.  This  shall 
apply  principally  to  links,  to  construction  and  restructuring  of  housing  and  farm  buildings, 
and to purchase and maintenance of technical installations and equipment. 

Article 16 
Further measures 

The  Contracting  Parties  may  take  further  measures  on  mountain  farming  than  the  measures 
provided for in this Protocol. 

CHAPTER III 
RESEARCH, TRAINING AND INFORMATION 

Article 17 
Research and observation 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

The  Contracting  Parties  shall  encourage  and  harmonise,  in  close  cooperation, 
research and systematic observation which are conducive to achieving the objectives 
of this Protocol. 

In  particular,  they  shall  encourage  agricultural  research  specially  targeted  on 
mountain farming which shall be conducted in a manner corresponding as closely as 
possible to the specific local conditions and shall be taken into account in the process 
of  setting  and  checking  agricultural  policy  objectives  and  measures,  applying  the 
results obtained to training and technical assistance activities for agriculture. 

The  Contracting  Parties  shall  ensure  that  the  national  results  of  the  research  and 
systematic  observation  are  integrated  in  a  joint  permanent  observation  and 
information system and that they are made accessible to the public under the existing 
institutional framework. 

As  regards  the  different  mountain  areas  and  taking  account  of  the  objectives  and 
measures  laid  down  by  this  Protocol,  the  Contracting  Parties  shall,  in  particular, 
establish a comparison of the economic and social situation of mountain farming. 

The comparison shall be updated periodically and shall contain indications of the 
issues  and  the  locations  posing  particular  problems,  of  the  effectiveness  of  the 
measures put in place and of the measures to be adopted. Priority shall be given to 
data  on  demographic,  social  and  economic  development,  in  conjunction  with  the 
different geographical, environmental and infrastructure indicators for the areas and 

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definition  of  criteria  corresponding  to  sustainable,  balanced  development,  as 
provided for in the Alpine Convention and in this Protocol. 

6. 

In addition, the subjects listed in the annex shall be considered priorities. 

Article 18 
Training and information 

1. 

The Contracting Parties shall encourage basic and further training and the provision 
of  information  to  the  public  about  the  objectives,  measures  and  implementation  of 
this Protocol. 

2. 

The Contracting Parties shall encourage, in particular: 

(a) 

further  development  of  basic  and  further  training,  technical  assistance 
concerning  farming,  assistance  with  business  and  commercial  management, 
without  losing  sight  of  protection  of  nature  and  the  environment.  In  general, 
the  training  offered  shall  be  structured  to  favour  orientation  towards  and 
preparation for other alternative or complementary activities in sectors linked to 
farming; 

(b) 

ample  and  objective 
the  persons  and 
information  not  restricted 
administrations directly concerned but reaching - via the media in particular -
the broadest public inside and outside the Alpine region to raise awareness of 
and interest in the functions of mountain farming. 

to 

3. 

In addition, the subjects listed in the annex shall be considered priorities. 

CHAPTER IV 
IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING AND EVALUATION 

Article 19 
Implementation 

The Contracting Parties undertake to ensure the implementation of this Protocol by taking any 
appropriate measures within the existing institutional framework. 

Article 20 
Monitoring of compliance with obligations 

1. 

2. 

The  Contracting  Parties  shall  regularly  report  to  the  Standing  Committee  on 
measures taken under this Protocol. The reports shall also cover the effectiveness of 
the measures taken. The Alpine Conference shall determine the intervals at which the 
reports must be submitted. 

The  Standing  Committee  shall  examine  these  reports  in  order  to  ensure  that  the 
Contracting  Parties  have  fulfilled  their  obligations  under  this  Protocol.  It  may  also 
ask  for  additional  information  from  the  Contracting  Parties  concerned  or  have 
recourse to other information sources. 

EN 

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3. 

4. 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

The Standing Committee shall draw up a report on the compliance of the Contracting 
Parties with the obligations arising from the Protocol, for the attention of the Alpine 
Conference. 

The Alpine Conference shall take note of this report. If it finds that obligations have 
not been met, it may adopt recommendations. 

Article 21 
Evaluation of the effectiveness of the provisions 

The Contracting Parties shall regularly examine and evaluate the effectiveness of the 
provisions  of  this  Protocol.  They  shall  consider  the  adoption  of  appropriate 
amendments to this Protocol where necessary in order to achieve objectives. 

The regional and local authorities shall be associated with this evaluation within the 
existing institutional framework. Non-governmental organisations active in this field 
may be consulted. 

CHAPTER V 
FINAL PROVISIONS 

Article 22 
Links between the Alpine Convention and the Protocol 

This Protocol constitutes a Protocol to the Alpine Convention within the meaning of 
Article 2 thereof and any other relevant articles of the Convention. 

Only  Contracting  Parties  to  the  Alpine  Convention  may  become  a  party  to  this 
Protocol.  Any  denunciation  of  the  Alpine  Convention  also  implies  denunciation  of 
this Protocol. 

Where  the  Alpine  Conference  discusses  matters  relating  to  this  Protocol,  only  the 
Contracting Parties to this Protocol may take part in the vote. 

Article 23 
Signature and ratification 

This  Protocol  shall  be  open  for  signature  by  the  signatory  States  of  the  Alpine 
Convention and the European Community on 20 December 1994 and in the Republic 
of Austria, as the depositary, from 15 January 1995. 

This Protocol shall enter into force for the Contracting Parties which have expressed 
their  agreement  to  be  bound  by  the  said  Protocol  three  months  after  the  date  on 
which  three  States  have  deposited  their  instrument  of  ratification,  acceptance  or 
approval. 

For Parties which express their agreement to be bound by the Protocol at a later date, 
the  Protocol  shall  enter  into  force  three  months  after  the  date  of  deposit  of  the 
instrument  of  ratification,  acceptance  or  approval.  After  the  entry  into  force  of  an 
amendment  to  the  Protocol,  any  new  Contracting  Party  to  the  said  Protocol  shall 
become a Contracting Party to the Protocol, as amended. 

EN 

15 

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Article 24 
Notifications 

The depositary shall, in respect of this Protocol, notify each State referred to in the Preamble 
and the European Community of: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

(e) 

any signature; 

the deposit of any instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval; 

any date of entry into force; 

any declaration made by a Contracting Party or signatory; 

any  denunciation  notified  by  a  Contracting  Party,  including  the  date  on  which  it 
becomes effective. 

In witness whereof, the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol. 

Done  at  Chambéry  on  20  December  1994  in  the  French,  German,  Italian  and  Slovene 
languages,  the  four  texts  being  equally  authentic,  the  original  text  being  deposited  in  the 
Austrian  State  archives.  The  depositary  shall  send  a  certified  copy  to  each  of  the  signatory 
States. 

EN 

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RESEARCH AND TRAINING PRIORITIES UNDER ARTICLES 17 AND 18 

A N N E X 

Research 

Definition  and  classification  of  mountain  areas  on  the  basis  of  their  altitude  and  of  the 
climate, geomorphologic, economic and infrastructure conditions at different locations. 

Verification of the effects of the measures adopted on mountain farming at different political 
decision-making  levels  (EU/CAP,  States,  regions,  local  authorities)  and  of  the  ecological 
functions (social and environmental compatibility). 

Evaluation of the economic, ecological, social and cultural functions of farming and forestry 
and  of  their  development  prospects,  in  the  context  of  the  specific  local  conditions  in 
different mountain areas. 

Methods of production and manufacture, criteria for improvement and quality in farm produce 
in mountain areas. 

Genetic  research  and  technical  assistance  for  differentiated  conservation  of  the  diversity  of 
the  species  of  livestock  reared  and  crops  grown  which  suits  local  conditions  and  is 
environmentally compatible. 

Training 

Technical,  scientific  and  socio-economic  assistance  and  training  for  farms  and  for  food 
companies processing their produce. 

Technical  and  economic  business  management  aiming,  in  particular,  at  diversification  of 
the supply of products and alternative production and income inside and outside farming. 

Technical and financial conditions and effects of application of natural farming and production 
methods compatible with the environment. 

Media,  presentation  and  dissemination  of  information  in  line  with  the  direction  of  public 
opinion, policy and the economy, inside and outside the Alpine region. 

EN 

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ANNEX II 

DECLARATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY 

DECLARATION BY THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY 

REGARDING ARTICLES 8 AND 9 OF THE PROTOCOL ON MOUNTAIN FARMING 

The European Community recognises the principle of co-existence as the ability of farmers to 
choose  between  conventional,  organic  and  genetically  modified  crop  production,  in 
compliance with the legal obligations for GMO labelling and/or purity standards. The relevant 
articles of the Protocol on Mountain Farming should be interpreted in this light. 

DECLARATION BY THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY 

REGARDING ARTICLES 7, 9 TO 11, 13, 14 AND 16  
OF THE PROTOCOL ON MOUNTAIN FARMING 

The  European  Community  considers  that  public  support  measures  in  favour  of  certain 
enterprises must be in conformity with its rules on competition as established on the basis of 
Articles 36 and 87 to 89 EC, and not distort or threaten to distort competition and affect trade 
between contracting parties. 

EN 

18 

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