1. GUIDANCE ON (NEEI) AND NATURA 2000 ___________________________________________________________________
TERMS OF REFERENCE
N2K GROUP

2. Relevant previous experience
NEEI AND NATURA GUIDELINES _____________________________________________________________________________________
Relevant previous experience
- ICMM & IUCN. Good Practice Guidance for Mining and Biodiversity
- MMSD Project (WS Mining & Biodiversity, Reports…)
- Social and Environmental Impact Assessment schemes specific to the needs of the sector
- Partnerships (e.g Rio Tinto & BirdLife, Earthwatch, Flora & Fauna International,World Conservation Monitoring Centre, World Wide Fund for Nature …)
- Awards (e.g. UEPG…)
etc….
N2K GROUP

3. NEEI AND NATURA GUIDELINES _____________________________________________________________________________________
Guidelines:
- Finland. Exploration and Mining in Finland's
Protected Areas
- Sweden. Guidance for good environmental practise at prospecting in protected areas
- France. Guide Méthodologique pour l’évaluation des incidences des projets de carrières sur les sites Natura 2000

4. NEEI AND NATURA GUIDELINES _____________________________________________________________________________________
EC Guidelines :
• Managing Natura 2000 sites: The provisions of Article 6 of the 'Habitats' Directive 92/43/EEC
• Assessment of Plans and Projects Significantly Affecting Natura 2000 sites
• Compensation measures: Guidance document on Article 6(4)
• Clarification of the concepts of: alternative solutions, imperative reasons of overriding public interest, compensatory measures, overall coherence, Opinion of the Commission
• Guidance document on the strict protection of animal species of Community interest under the 'Habitats' Directive 92/43/EEC" (final version Feb 2007) tm
• Monitoring and Reporting - Habitats Directive Article 17

5. Environmental assessment - SEA, EIA &
NEEI AND NATURA GUIDELINES _____________________________________________________________________________________
RELEVANT ISSUES
Access to land - analyse real constraints created by Nature Directives and Natura 2000
Mineral planning versus Natura 2000 management - Only a few countries have defined national minerals policies.
Environmental assessment - SEA, EIA &
Appropriate assessmment (art. 6.3 HD)

6. NEEI AND NATURA GUIDELINES _____________________________________________________________________________________
Working method:
- Dialogue between the NEEI and other stakeholder groups to promote better understanding on the provisions of Nature Directives and Natura 2000 and how they affect the development of NEEI activities.
- Analyse the conditions and constraints created by the Natura 2000 network to the development of NEEI.
- Exchange information on existing experiences, good practice and lessons that have been learnt.
- Develop specific guidelines for the development and implementation of non energy extractive activities in relation to Natura 2000.

7. NEEI AND NATURA GUIDELINES _____________________________________________________________________________________
The process involves:
- Consultation with Member States and organisations concerned, including extractive industry associations and NGOs.
- The work will be supervised by an ad-hoc working group (AHG) chaired by the Commission and composed of a few MS experts and experts from organisations concerned.

8. Ad-hoc working group (AHG) :
NEEI AND NATURA GUIDELINES _____________________________________________________________________________________
Ad-hoc working group (AHG) :
Representatives from interested Member States, NEEI and NGOs, DG Environment and DG Enterprise & Industry .
Roles and responsibilities:
- Assist in the preparation of the guidance document, providing inputs, comments and suggestions on the drafts received (4 drafts are envisaged)
- Participation in meetings organised by the Commission

9. NEEI AND NATURA GUIDELINES _____________________________________________________________________________________
MAIN ACTIVITIES (1):
- Collection and analysis of information: EU legislative and policy context, overview of NEE activities, potential effects, good practice guidance and examples (case studies).
- Setting-up the of the ad-hoc working group (AHG)
- First meeting (AHG) to discuss tasks and first outline of the guidelines.
- Preparation of first draft of the guidance document - by end May 2008.
- Meeting with the AHG to discuss and review the first draft of the guidance document - mid June 2008
- Preparation of a second draft - by end June 2008.
N2K GROUP

10. NEEI AND NATURA GUIDELINES _____________________________________________________________________________________
MAIN ACTIVITIES (2):
- 2nd draft of guidance document sent to MS and Stakeholders for comments (deadline for comments : mid August 2008)
- Preparation of a third draft of the guidance document taking into account the comments and suggestion received (by end September 08).
- Workshop with participation of AHG and experts for discussion and review of the third draft guidance document (mid October 08).
- Preparation of final draft based the results on the results of the workshop (end November 08).
- Consultation of MS and Stakeholders on the final draft (until end December).

11. NEEI AND NATURA GUIDELINES _____________________________________________________________________________________
Meetings
- First meeting to agree on tasks and prepare a first outline of the guidance document (mid April 08)
- Second meeting to discuss and review the first draft of the guidance document (mid June 08
- Workshop with participation of AHG and experts for the discussion and review (mid October 08)
N2K GROUP

12. Good practice examples
NEEI AND NATURA 2000 – GUIDELINES _____________________________________________________________________________________
Good practice examples
Analysis of relevant case studies – good practice and lessons learnt from unsuccessful experience:
- Minerals planning taking into account conservation areas
- Appropriate environmental assessment (art. 6.3) and efficient compensation (art. 6.4)
- Mitigation and compensation measures
The whole project cycle shall be considered (planning, prospect and design phase, operation and closure)

13. Before and After restoration
NEEI AND NATURA GUIDELINES _____________________________________________________________________________________
Before and After restoration
Prospecting