Strasbourg, 17/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament this week raised the problem of compatibility between certain programmes financed under Structural Funds in Member States and the application of the EU environmental legislation. Adopting a resolution by Caroline Jackson, Chair of the Committee on the Environment, it invited: a) Member States that have not yet done so to present as soon as possible a complete list of sites proposed for the Natura 2000 network; b) the Commission to act with the legal authority conferred upon it by the regulations on Structural Funds and Cohesion Funds in order to examine each plan or programme in the light of the requirements of the Habitat and Wild Birds Directive. The French Socialists did not take part in the vote as they considered the text was not equitable , as announced by Ms Lienemann. During the night session debate, French Green member Ms Isler Béguin had affirmed that France, although 10 to 13% of the national territory should be covered by Natura 2000, has only retained 4.9% of the territory and that hunters, instead of supporting this network, have launched a campaign against Natura 2000.
The plenary did not, however, go as far as the initial text of the resolution, which called on the Commission not to approve the plans of Member States concerning Structural Funds when the proposals submitted by these Member States on sites under Natura 2000 "present gaps". It in fact approved (263 for, 177 against and 7 abstentions) an amendment by the EPP and Socialist groups whereby the Parliament simply invites the Commission to keep it informed when it considers that the Member State proposals on the sites covered by Natura 2000 are lacking.
During a press conference by the Greens, Marie Anne Isler Béguin said she was pleased with the assurances given by Commissioner Wallström, who had pointed out that she would ask Member States to comply with the environmental directives. Once more, financial aspects are being placed before defence of the environment, she deplored. German national Elisabeth Schroedter also expressed great displeasure noting that, when one notes that a project that has already started up does not comply with environmental directives, it is generally very difficult to suspend the financing. British Caroline Lucas strongly denounced her country's situation which, she said, presented an extremely limited list of sites (3% of the territory, while territory covered in other countries is around 15%), and Irish Patricia McKenna felt that Ireland is probably one of the "worst offenders" regarding directives. Finally, Italian national Monica Frassoni affirmed: the situation is such that we can only count on the European Commission's power to enforce the law. "If the Commission gives up, then there is no hope …"
EUROPE recalls that the European Commission recently took a firm position in this connection (see yesterday's bulletin, p.11).