2006/655/EC: Council Decision of 19 June 2006 on the approval, on behalf of the European Community, of the Protocol on the implementation of the 1991 Alpine Convention in the field of mountain farming
Date: 2006-06-19
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Alpine Region, cross-border cooperation, environmental protection, hill farming, international convention, protocol to an agreement

30.9.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 271/61

COUNCIL DECISION

of 19 June 2006

on the approval, on behalf of the European Community, of the Protocol on the implementation of
the 1991 Alpine Convention in the field of mountain farming

(2006/655/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Farming (Mountain Farming Protocol) at Chambéry on
20 December 1994.

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

(4)

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

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

geomorphological

and

due

to

The Convention on the protection of the Alps (here-
inafter Alpine Convention) was signed on behalf of the
European Community on 7 November 1991, approved
by Council Decision 96/191/EC of 26 February 1996 (2)
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.

in the negotiation of

the European Communities took
The Commission of
part
the Mountain Farming
Protocol, which is greatly influenced by Community
and legislation. The European Community
policies
signed the Protocol on the implementation of
the
1991 Alpine Convention in the field of Mountain

Under the overarching goal of sustainable development
the aim of the Mountain Farming Protocol, provided for
in Article 1, is to ensure and promote a form of agri-
culture 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
and
conserving the beauty and the value of the traditional
countryside. The Contracting Parties should optimise
the multifunctional role of mountain farming.

against natural

risks

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

The goals and measures provided for in the Mountain
Farming Protocol, such as encouragement of mountain
farming and improvement of living conditions, land use,
nature-friendly farming, and promotion and marketing
and forestry measures, are in line with Community agri-
legislation and policy and in particular with
cultural
Council Regulation
of 20
September 2005 on support for rural development by
the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development
(EAFRD) (3).

(EC) No 1698/2005

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

a

The Alpine Convention and the Mountain Farming
Protocol are relevant
for 13 million inhabitants and
nearly 6 000 communities in an area of 19 million
hectares. The Alps are also of great importance for popu-
lations of other regions.

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

(1) Opinion of 13 June 2006 (not yet published in the Official Journal).
(2) OJ L 61, 12.3.1996, p. 31.

(3) OJ L 277, 21.10.2005, p. 1.

L 271/62

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

30.9.2006

(9)

The ratification of the Mountain Farming Protocol 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.

(10)

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

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

the 1991 Alpine
The Protocol on the implementation of
Convention in the field of Mountain Farming (Mountain
Farming Protocol)
the
Community.

is hereby approved on behalf of

The text of
attached to this Decision.

the Protocol and of

the related declarations is

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,
in
accordance with Article 24 of the Protocol and to deposit the
attached declarations.

instrument

approval

the

of

Article 3

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

Done at Luxembourg, 19 June 2006.

For the Council
The President

J. PRÖLL