Brussels, 17/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - The persisting opposition to implementation of the Natura 2000 programme in both former and new EU member states was the focus of work by the seminar entitled: “Natura 2000 - an opportunity for or an obstacle to development - Natura 2000 from the regional point of view”. Jointly organised by the ALDE groups at the European Parliament (EP) and the Committee of the Regions (CoR), the seminar was held in Brussels on Wednesday 16 April with the participation of Commissioners Stavros Dimas (environment) and Danuta Hübner (regional policy). The question put to participants was that of how to settle conflicts of interest between two rival policies: Natura 2000 and regional development policy.
“Regional development priorities sometimes clash with tough environmental requirements”, Polish MEP (ALDE) Grazyna Staniszewska stresses in a press release. She states: “While establishing the borders of protected sites, local authorities have both an interest in protecting nature whilst also being responsible for creating the optimal conditions for the development of their local community. They can only find out what is allowed and what is not authorised on their own territory from their national capitals or from Brussels without being fully part of the decision-making”. She went on to recall that her group has always “supported the subsidiarity principle and the partnership with local communities in this policy area, since local communities have the best understanding of the social and economic conditions in the regions”. The aim of the seminar was, not to dwell on any specific case, but to reflect on the best possible approach to adopt when this kind of conflict occurs, said ALDE MEP Elspeth Attwooll, co-organiser of the seminar. “The focus of our discussions is on seeing how far it is possible to avoid these [conflicts of interest] in the first place and, if not to look at the best practice for resolving them”, she added. Flo Clucas (Lib Dem, UK) President of the ALDE Group in the Committee of the Regions, concluded: “Many regions are in desperate need for investment in infrastructure. Where this takes place, the impact on the local environment must be mitigated in order to enable the priorities of both economic development and environmental agendas to be met”.
On this occasion, Stavros Dimas, sent out a clear message: “We are ready and willing to work with all economic sectors that are interested in engaging in constructive dialogue”. In his speech, the Commissioner underlined the fact that Natura 2000 “is not a development policy. It is a nature protection policy (…). We aim to design and implement the policy in a way that does not restrict economic development”. He stressed in passing that Natura 2000 “represents a model that other countries and regions should consider following”.
Danuta Hübner, for her part, pointed out the “central goal of cohesion policy” which is to “reduce economic and social disparities between member states and regions”. The Commissioner said: “Cohesion policy and Natura 2000 should be seen as allies rather than foes”. “What is important is not only the dialogue. It is also the way this dialogue is organised. If we put this into the terms of deliberative democracy, we can say that we need a debate which would give to all the participants real grounds to make rational choices. Otherwise it can easily degenerate into a sort of false 'birdies against people' alternative we can so often see in the media”, the Commissioner warned. (G.B.)