Brussels, 29/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - On 23 March, the European Commission presented the results of a study on European mountain areas. The study provides an in-depth analysis of the mountain areas of 29 countries in Europe: the 15 Member States of the European Union, the 10 new Member States, the two candidate countries, (Bulgaria and Romania), as well as Norway and Switzerland. Presenting the study, Commissioner Michel Barnier said: " The Commission recognises for the first time the effect of geographical handicaps on development prospects and on the need for future regional programmes to take this into account ". In its third cohesion report, published in February 2004, the Commission suggested taking greater account of geographical handicaps with regard to development.
The study reveals that in the 15 Member States, mountain areas cover 39.9% of the area and have 17.8% of the population, for the 12 acceding and accession countries the figures are 22.4% and 17.6%, respectively, and for Norway and Switzerland 91.3% and 76.2%. Comparing population change (1991-2001) and population density, the general trend is one of stability or growth in northern and central Europe. In eastern Europe, depopulation is the norm. The economy of Europe's mountain areas is subject to considerable diversity. While agriculture and forestry are often perceived as vital in economic terms and for cultural identity, employment in other sectors is generally higher. High shares of service activity are found both in prosperous mountain areas (e.g., French Northern Alps, Swiss Mittelland) and in less prosperous areas, with public service provision as the main activity in the latter (e.g. northern Norway). A diverse group of mountain areas retain a relatively high share of secondary employment (Hardangervidda and the southern mountains of Norway, northern England, Wales, the Czech Sudetes, the Black Forest of Germany, Catalonia and the Basque Country in Spain). Mountain areas dependent on primary sector activities are concentrated in southern Europe. The full text of the study can be found at this website:
http: //europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/sources/docgener/studies/study_en.htm