European Union Countries Blamed For Habitats Scandal
3/5/99
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Title: EU Countries Blamed For Habitats Scandal
Source: World Wildlife Fund
Status: Distribute freely with credit given to source
Date: March 5, 1999
WWF warned that while the Habitats Directive remained unimplemented
areas of outstanding importance for nature conservation were under
increasing threat across Europe.
Tony Long, WWF European Policy Officer, said "The Habitats Directive is
potentially the most significant initiative for nature conservation in
Europe in the last fifty years. It is a scandal that it is not being
implemented. Every single deadline has been missed since the Directive
was agreed in 1992. In the meantime areas which should be conserved are
being threatened by road and dam building, over-grazing, drainage and
other perils. In some cases the threats are coming from EU funded
activities. One victim of member states lack of action could be the
Iberian lynx. Time is running out for this very endangered cat."
Deadlines contained in the Directive which have been missed so far
include: the Thirteen member states are now four years late in proposing
all their Special Areas of Conservation (only Denmark and Greece have
submitted a complete list); t The Commission and member states have
not agreed a final list of sites for protection which they were supposed
to do by June 1998, so these sites remain unprotected; the Transposition
of the Directive into member state law has just finished - five years
late. Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Spain and UK may have transposed it
incorrectly.
In a report published today, WWF identifies sites in Austria, France,
Greece, Spain and the UK which should be protected under the Habitats
Directive but are instead under threat.
Marta Ballesteros, WWF Ecological networks Co-ordinator, said "EU
countries are dragging their feet and undermining EU law. One alleged
difficulty is money but WWF has identified several EU funds which could
be used to support the Habitats Directive."
WWF's new report reveals there are at least 7 Structural Fund
regulations and 6 CAP regulations which could be used to support the
management, conservation and sustainable development of the Special
Areas of Conservation.
WWF's Marta Ballesteros added "The Special Areas of Conservation must be
set up and protected urgently."