COR/06/142
Brussels, 6 December 2006
Zeeland Province Commissioner calls for increased efforts to preserve biodiversity
A report by the Committee of the Regions (CoR) has stressed the need for seriously stepping up action if the EU wants to reach its objective of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010, to which the EU made a commitment at the European Council in Gothenburg in 2001. In its December plenary session, attended by Commission President José Manuel BARROSO, the CoR adopted its opinion in response to the Commission communication "Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 – and beyond".
The opinion, unanimously accepted by CoR members was presented by rapporteur Wim VAN GELDER, Queen's Commissioner of the Province of Zeeland, who voiced his approval with remarks made by Stavros DIMAS, European Commissioner for the Environment, earlier in the session. Addressing the assembly, the Environment Commissioner asserted that halting the loss of biodiversity is as urgent as the fight against climate change and championed the role of regions and cities in the development of schemes to preserve or restore biodiversity.
The CoR opinion welcomes the Commission Communication and the Action Plan accompanying the communication since they provide an accurate assessment of the situation and highlight the measures to be taken in order to help achieve the 2010 objectives. In the opinion, the CoR expresses concern that despite political commitments made by all the Member States, the 2010 objectives are still significantly far from being achieved and calls for biodiversity to be placed higher on the political agenda by all levels of government. Nevertheless, the opinion points to the many successful examples at local and regional level that prove how loss of biodiversity can be stemmed and the restoration of habitats achieved.
The report points out that the economic value of biodiversity is largely underestimated, and explains that, by providing the so-called ecosystem services, biodiversity is a prerequisite for long-term health, a high standard of living and employment.
The report adds that biodiversity preservation policy can only be successful if it is accompanied by ambitious action regarding climate change. The CoR highlights the importance of Member States meeting their obligations under the Kyoto protocol and calls for the conclusion of an ambitious global climate change convention including all major industrial countries and sectors for the post-2012 period.
Other concerns put across by the CoR include the insufficient allocation of EU funds for financing the 2010 objectives in the 2007–2013 financial perspective, especially for the Natura 2000 initiative and rural development. The opinion emphasises the need for biodiversity concerns to be dealt with, not only in the field of environment policy, but also in other policy areas at EU and Member State level, especially transport, energy, industry, agriculture, fisheries, regional policy, tourism and research policy. The CoR also recommends the drawing up of basic legislation and lists of potentially invasive alien species, laying down rules for their importation and trade in order to ensure that European action is coordinated. The report advises the Commission to extend Community legislation on environmental impact assessments to include projects involving such species.
Addressing the members, Mr Van Gelder, a member of the CoR's EPP group underlined the necessity for more cooperation at EU, national, regional and local level in order to ensure sustainable ecosystems and insisted that incentives detrimental to biodiversity are abolished, while the use of economic instruments for the protection of biodiversity is increased.
EU Committee of the Regions
The Brussels-based Committee of the Regions (CoR) was established by the Maastricht Treaty in 1994 as a consultative body to provide representatives of local and regional government with a voice at the heart of the European Union. The European Commission and Council of Ministers are obliged to consult the CoR’s 317 members on proposed EU laws across a wide range of policy areas, including employment, transport and the environment. The assembly can also be consulted by the European Parliament. The Netherlands is represented by 12 members and the same number of alternates in the CoR. More information can be found on the CoR website at http://www.cor.europa.eu For more information, please contact: Martin MALLON Tel. +32 (0)2 282 20 33
Email: martin.mallon@cor.europa.eu Dennis ABBOTT Tel. +32 (0)2 282 20 99 Email: dennis.abbott@cor.europa.eu Press Release in full :
<http://www.cor.europa.eu/en/press/press_releases.htm>
