 P Buchner/BirdLife
SPAs have proved important for conservation of Ferruginous Duck in Slovakia.
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Commission puts its foot down to ensure nature protected in new Member States, Germany and Austria
27-06-2007
The European Commission opens infringement procedures against almost all new Member States for insufficient implementation of EU nature law – Poland and Germany taken to the European Court.
Brussels, Belgium - The European Commission took a strong stance today by starting new and stepping up ongoing infringement proceedings against ten EU Member States for failing to implement the EU Birds Directive [1]. Together with the Habitats Directive this law forms the cornerstone of EU action to address the decline of biodiversity, which in combination with climate change is seen as the most pressing environmental problem of the 21st century. EU governments have committed to halting the loss of wildlife by 2010, and to implementing its nature legislation.
Konstantin Kreiser, EU Policy Manager at BirdLife International [2] in Brussels states: “We welcome the legal actions announced today, but regret that so many governments need to be forced to turn their nice words into action. We hope the affected Member States will now speed up their efforts to comply with EU legislation. We need healthy and diverse ecosystems to ensure long-term economic development. After all, this is about the well-being of Europeans!”[3]
The Commission decided today to take Germany, Austria and Poland to the European Court of Justice because of insufficient designation of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) as required by the Birds Directive. It was also decided to send first warning letters on the same issue to eight more countries that joined the EU in 2004. This means, that apart from Estonia, all the new Member States from the 2004 round are in legal trouble on bird protection. Cyprus will receive a first warning letter related to bird hunting. [4]
"We welcome the legal actions announced today, but regret that so many governments need to be forced to turn their nice words into action." —Konstantin Kreiser, EU Policy Manager at BirdLife International in Brussels.
Izabela Flor, Director of OTOP, the Polish BirdLife Partner, declares that “Poland’s joining the EU was not only about reaping the economic benefits of membership as one of Europe’s largest net recipients of funds but also about fulfilling our obligations to respect and implement the EU’s environmental law. Only this can guarantee the survival of the unique but threatened Polish wildlife such as the Aquatic Warbler, White-tailed Eagle or Great Snipe. Our government should avoid being condemned by the European Court and protect the remaining sites immediately.”
Commenting on the decision to take Germany to Court, Olaf Tschimpke, President of NABU (BirdLife in Germany) says: “It’s a shame and not a good example to other Member States, that twenty-eight years after the unanimous adoption of the Birds Directive some German regions still have not designated sufficient sites. We can only welcome the decision of the Commission to refer this case to the Court.”
Rastislav Rybanic, Director of SOS (BirdLife in Slovakia) is also on high alert: “The site designation process in Slovakia has ground to a halt since last autumn with important nature areas lacking protection. SPAs in Slovakia support important populations of threatened species like Imperial Eagle, Saker Falcon or Ferruginous Duck. The halt of the designation process has also meant that farmers and foresters are not able to benefit from EU Rural Development funds in Natura 2000 sites.” Slovakia received another warning letter from the Commission for unjustified logging in the High Tatras National Park.
At the same time the Commission today sent a first warning letter to Cyprus for not complying with the hunting provisions of the Birds Directive. Cyprus breached Community law by allowing spring hunting of Turtle Dove last May. Like Malta which has already received a warning on this issue, the country risks being taken to European Court if it does not ban spring hunting once and for all.
For further information, please contact:
Konstantin Kreiser, EU Policy Manager of BirdLife International, +32 (0)2 280 08 30
Editor's notes:
[1] The Birds Directive and Special Protection Areas: The EU Birds Directive requires Member States to designate Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for birds to ensure the survival of the EU’s most threatened bird species and migratory birds. SPAs form part of the ‘Natura 2000’ network of the EU, a modern conservation concept which, on about 18% of the EU’s territory, aims to reconcile human activities with nature conservation. Natura 2000 sites are not fenced-off areas, but encourage sustainable and nature friendly land-use and business.
The Birds Directive also regulates the hunting of birds, and prohibits shooting birds in spring.
[2] BirdLife International is a global alliance of conservation organisations working in more than 100 countries and territories. It is the leading authority on the status of birds, their habitats and the issues and problems affecting them. Website: www.birdlife.org
[3] Wellbeing through Wildlife in the EU - This 2007 BirdLife publication with a foreword of Commission President Barroso shows how long-term economic development relies on environmental resources and functioning ecosystems, how access to green space improves physical and mental health and how education in the natural environment benefits current and future generations. The publication contains twenty-six case studies from across the EU and can be downloaded at: http://wellbeing.birdlife.org
[4] All decisions in summary: Germany, Austria and Poland are taken to the European Court for insufficient SPA designation. Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Cyprus and Malta receive a first warning letter from the Commission on insufficient SPA designation. Slovakia receives another first warning letter because of logging allowed in a protected forest site. Cyprus receives a first warning letter for having allowed spring hunting of Turtle Dove.