The action plan for nature, population and the economy presented by the European Commission in order to improve the implementation of the 'Habitats' and 'Wild birds' directives is a good thing, but needs immediate and more determined efforts and a timetable for key initiatives, the MEPs of the committee on the environment of the European Parliament said on Thursday 31 August (see EUROPE 11811, 11809). This is demonstrated by the terms of an oral question to the Commission, which it adopted by an overwhelming majority (55 votes to 1) ahead of the October plenary session.
In particular, the MEPs would like to know: - when the Commission will present a proposal to develop a trans-European green infrastructure network, a European initiative on pollinators and legislative proposals for the implementation of an 'access to justice' pillar of the Aarhus Convention; - what the Commission is doing to tackle the poaching of birds, including Mediterranean migratory species and hawks present in certain member states.
They also want to know why the Commission has made no reference to the EU biodiversity strategy up to 2020 and what strategy the Commission feels is required post-2020.
In the run-up to the next multi-annual EU budget, they are also curious as to the measures the Commission intends to take to increase the financial resources required for the adequate funding of nature conservation and biodiversity. In addition, they ask whether the Commission is planning to introduce a monitoring mission for expenditure under the Natura 2000 network in order to improve the transparency and efficiency of the use of its funding, as recommended by the European Court of Auditors. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)