DG Env.B21 The impact of environmental strategy and legislation on land use András Demeter, enlargement coordinator Nature & Biodiversity Unit, Directorate-General Environment, European Commission

DG Env.B22

3 Why is this small rodent becoming ever more endangered?

DG Env.B24 Because it needs short grass!

DG Env.B25

6 Monitoring sousliks in Hungary

DG Env.B27 Community’s institutional answer to environmental challenges 1st Environment Action Programme Single European Act-Environment title One component of other Community policies Maastricht Treaty- A policy European Community Treaty reviewed after AmsterdamTreaty- Sustainable Development pillar

DG Env.B28 Sustainable development The policy context Gothenburg European Council-June 2001 Agreement on A Sustainable Europe for a Better World: A European Union Strategy for Sustainable Development “A long-term strategy dovetailing policies for economically, socially and ecologically sustainable development” To halt the decline of biodiversity by 2010!

DG Env.B29 10 years programme 4 environmental areas 3 cross-cuttings issues 156 actions 3 to 4 years to present initiatives Review after 4 years 6th Environmental Action Programme… in 6 figures

DG Env.B210 Sustainable use & management of natural resources & wastes 6 EAP Climate Change Nature & biodiversity Environment & quality of life Marine Soil Pesticides Air Urban Resources Recycling The Thematic Strategies in the 6th EAP

DG Env.B211 Some important EU environmental legislation for rural landowners Nitrate directive Environmental Impact Assessment directive Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment Directive Water Framework Directive Nature directives

DG Env.B212 Nitrate Directive 91/676/EEC -Detection of polluted or threatened waters -Designation of vulnerable zones -Code(s) of good agricultural practice -Action programmes -National monitoring

DG Env.B213

DG Env.B214 Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 85/337/EEC applies to projects a public authority empowered to decide whether impact assessment is adequate permission only granted if no significant impact or remedial measures public participation list of activities

DG Env.B215 Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive 2001/42/EC MS-s to implement by 21 July 2004 objective: to ensure that environmental consequences of certain plans and programmes are identified and assessed during ther preparation integration of views of authorities the public are informed

DG Env.B216 WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE Environmental objectives for all waters Analysis of impact and pressures including an economic analysis Co-ordinated River Basin Management Plans with programme of measures Public participation Efficiency of measures

DG Env.B217 WFD: ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES Surface water No deterioration; Good ecological, chemical status; phase out hazardous substances; Restoration; Ground water No deterioration;Good qualitative and quantitative status; Balance between abstraction and recharge; Restoration Protected areas Respect all norms and criteria for the protected areas

DG Env.B218 A WFD KEY CONCEPT: RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PLANS Characteristics of River Basin Districts Analysis of pressures and impacts, economic analysis Monitoring network Established environmental objectives and derogations Program of measures Results of public participation

DG Env.B219 The Gothenburg target of halting decline of biodiversity by 2010 Good indicator for wild bird species, e.g. in UK

DG Env.B220 Why dealing with nature on EU-level? Major habitats under threat - wetlands in north & west Europe have been reduced by 60% in recent decades Species also in decline - 45 % of Europe’s butterflies threatened, 38% of Europe’s birds threatened Transboundary problems - eg. migratory birds Landuse-impact of other EU-policies - agriculture, transport, fisheries,... JOINT ACTION NEEDED!

DG Env.B221

DG Env.B222 Natura 2000 network Global aim: Maintain or restore the favourable conservation status of certain species and natural habitat types in their natural range SPA SCI

DG Env.B223 EU-nature conservation policy Two main directives: “Wild Birds Directive” (79/409/EEC) bird species “Habitats Directive” (92/43/EEC) other animal and plant species, habitat types

DG Env.B224 Implementing the Birds Directive – nesting and migratory species

DG Env.B225 Setting up Natura 2000 Birds Directive 1)Member States classify (CC: by accession) 2) Commission takes coordinating role Reference list: Important Bird Areas (IBAs) based on international criteria

DG Env.B226 Setting up Natura 2000 Habitats Directive 1)National lists proposed (AC: by accession) 2)Selection process on biogeographical level (aim: Community list) - MS & EC - max. 3 years 3)Designation by MS max. 6 years after Community list

DG Env.B227 What is special about Natura 2000? Clearly defined objectives Science based Biogeographic regions Site evaluation/selection on EU-level Management / Integration Legal obligation for the member states

DG Env.B228 State of play in 2003

DG Env.B229 NATURA 2000 network → sites → 10% - 15% of the area of the EU

DG Env.B Acs - Pannonian - 20 habitats - 77 animals - 88 plants

DG Env.B231 Member State Designated sites Total area (km²) ProgressAnnouncedProposed terrestrial (+marine) area as of % of national terrestrial territory Belgique/België ***/14.1% Danmark ***/22.3% Deutschland **Yes8.1% Ellas **Yes10.4% España **Yes15.5% France *Yes2.1% Ireland **Yes3.2% Italia **Yes7.8% Luxembourg13160**Yes6.2% Nederland *** 24.1% Österreich **Yes14.7% Portugal ** 9.4% Suomi ** 8.1% Sverige **Yes6.1% United Kingdom **Yes6.0% TOTAL NATURA BAROMETER – BIRDS DIRECTIVE – 08/10/03

DG Env.B232 Member StateProposed sites Total proposed area (km²) Assessment of the national list Mores sites announce d Proposed terrestrial (+marine) area as of % of national terrestrial territory Belgique/België yes10.4% Danmark no23.8% Deutschland (2) yes9.0% Ellas no20.9% España yes23.5% France (2) yes7.5% Ireland (2) yes14.2% Italia yes14.7% Luxembourg yes14.9% Nederland no18.1% Österreich yes10.6% Portugal no17.9% Suomi (2) no17.8% Sverige (2) yes13.4% United Kingdom yes10.1% TOTAL NATURA BAROMETER – HABITATS DIRECTIVE – 08/10/03

DG Env.B233

DG Env.B234 Enlargement The long technical discussions of modifying the annexes (more than 1000 proposals from the 12 candidate countries) Result - new, consolidated annexes in the Treaty and Act of Accession (ca. 150 pages!)

DG Env.B235

DG Env.B236 The high level of biodiversity in the acceding states will enrich the EU, and provide new opportunities!

DG Env.B237 For example, the second EU member state to have the flying squirrel will be Estonia

DG Env.B238 2 of the 13 new bird species in Annex I also proposed by Bulgaria (and HU, PL, SK)

DG Env.B239 The species such as the steppe polecat (Mustela eversmanii) or the beetle Carabus hungaricus have been proposed by both the Czech Republic and Hungary

DG Env.B240 and… some countries asked for GEOGRAPHIC RESTRICTION for - wolf - bear - beaver - lynx

DG Env.B241 Acceding states No transition periods for nature legislation Prepare national lists to be ready by accession Art.6.2/3/4 applies by accession All new investments to comply with the EC environmental acqui

DG Env.B242 The European Commission is closely monitoring the process of setting up the Natura 2000 network in the Accession Countries a Comprehensive Monitoring Report was published yesterday a strategy for the period up to Day 1 of membership

DG Env.B243 As regards as regards implementing Natura 2000, the report identified… High level of alignment in four acceding states (LT, LV, SI, SK) Concerns and hence enhanced efforts required in the other six acceding states

DG Env.B244 Should there always be a conflicts between conservation goals and economic interests?

DG Env.B245

DG Env.B246 A concern for the Commission

DG Env.B247 Using the Opportunities... Rural tourism Extensive agriculture and forestry - commercial asset for products Employment effects Access to funding possibilities

DG Env.B248 LEADER+ Action 1: support for integrated territorial rural development strategies of a pilot nature on the bottom-up approach and horizontal partnerships –One of the priority themes: „making the best use of natural and cultural resources, including enhancing the value sites of Community interest selected under Natura 2000.” dex_en.htm

DG Env.B249 INTERREG III Initiative to stimulate interregional cooperation in EU Strand A: cross-border Strand B: transnational Strand C: interregional INTERREG IIIC –Regional and other public authorities across the entire EU financed from the European Regional Development Fund

DG Env.B250 Financing Natura 2000 The Commission has set up a Working Group on Article 8 of the Habitats Directive Recognising that greater knowledge on the costs of implementing Natura 2000 is required The Group was formed in December 2001 Final report published in December, 2002

DG Env.B251 Potential Outcome n Create a new funding instrument n Develop an existing funding mechanism to fit a new purpose (e.g. LIFE Nature) n Build on existing funding mechanisms and make one or more of them more explicitly available for co-financing Natura 2000

DG Env.B252 The overall Picture n Policy shifts in other areas – notably CAP and CFP n Impact of the Accession Countries to an enlarged EU Funding is crucial for the implementation of Natura 2000

DG Env.B253 Estimate of total costs for the Natura 2000 network of the 15 Member States: 3,4 to 5,7 billion € per year Uncertainties of the questionnaire n Not all MS responded n Rough estimates n Different designation regime n Agri-environmental measures not always included Estimation of Costs

DG Env.B254 Accuracy of the estimates has been questioned a new questionnaire has been sent to MS & AC-s asking for better figures a communication from the European Commission on financing is expected!

DG Env.B255 The spirit of the Maastricht Treaty Article 6 on integration the way forward

DG Env.B256 “L’Instrument Financier pour l’Environment”

DG Env.B257 LIFE-Nature for Natura years of the regulation’s implementation Some data

DG Env.B258 The European Commission is proposing an extension of the Life Programme programme period rules more or less the same as so far budget allocation more or less the same as so far

DG Env.B259 There are opportunities!

DG Env.B260 CAP Review Need for awareness on: –Enlargement –WTO –Budgetary pressures BUT CAP changes will not alone make perfect the Agriculture - Environment relationship

DG Env.B261

DG Env.B262 Regulation no. 1782/2003 (29 Sept) Article 16 of the Amended 1257/99 Regulation “Payments to compensate for costs incurred and income foregone may be made to farmers who are subject to restrictions on agricultural use in areas with environmental restrictions as a result of the implementation of Directives 79/409/EEC and 92/43/EEC, if and in so far as such payments are necessary to solve the specific problems arising from the implementation of those Directives.”

DG Env.B263 The agreement of June 2003 introduced the option for increases in the payment related to Article 16 (set to a maximum 200 EURO/ha/year) up to a maximum to be specified by the Member State.

DG Env.B264 New accompanying measures: –Support for participation in “quality” schemes –Support for producer groups for quality promotion –Temporary + degressive aid for better uptake of EU legislation in Environment, health, welfare and occupational areas, by introducing the measure “meeting standards” –Support for farm audits leading to better cross- compliance

DG Env.B265 Rural Developments Plans of the Accession Countries Commission assessment –of nature conservation considerations (Natura 2000) –if there is a mechanism for identifying potential adverse effects –so that opportunities are not missed

DG Env.B266 Is this there a gloomy future for the Natura 2000 network? Development of transport infrastructure

DG Env.B267

DG Env.B268

DG Env.B269

DG Env.B270 The future of nature and land use in Europe with enlargement, “rural Europe” will not be the same as before rural areas will provide benefits other than only food production, e.g. sustainable tourism the enormous pressures for development must be channelled to areas with least nature values Natura 2000 should be looked upon as an opportunity for, and not as obstacle to development

DG Env.B271 Thank you for your attention! More information at homepage: nature/home.htm