25.7.2006 Official Journal of the European Union L 201/31 COUNCIL DECISION of 27 June 2006 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the Protocol on Soil Protection, the Protocol on Energy and the Protocol on Tourism to the Alpine Convention (2006/516/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 175(1), in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament (?), Whereas: (1)  The Convention on the protection of the Alps (here- inafter ‘the Alpine Convention) was concluded on behalf of the European Community by Council Decision 96/191/EC (3. (2)  The Council decided on the signature, on behalf of the European Community, of the Protocol on Soil Protection, the Protocol on Energy and the Protocol on Tourism to the Alpine Convention (hereinafter ‘the Protocols) by Council Decision 2005/923/EC (3). (3)  The Protocols are an important step in the implemen- tation of the Alpine Convention, and the European Community is committed to the objectives of this Convention. (4)  Economic, social and ecological cross-border problems of the Alps remain a major challenge to be addressed in this highly sensitive area. ) Community Policies, in particular priority areas as defined in Decision No 1600/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 July 2002 laying down the Sixth Community Environment Action Programme (¥, should be promoted and strengthened within the Alpine region. (6)  One of the main goals of the Protocol on Soil Protection is the safeguarding of the multifunctional role of soil based on the concept of sustainable development. Sustainable productivity of soil must be ensured in its natural function, as an archive of natural and cultural history and in order to guarantee its use for agriculture and forestry, urbanism and tourism, other economic uses, transport and infrastructure, and as a source of raw materials. (7)  Any approach to soil protection should take account of the considerable diversity of regional and local conditions that exist in the Alpine region. The Protocol on Soil Protection could help to implement appropriate measures at national and regional level. (8)  Requirements of the Protocol such as soil monitoring, identification of risk zones for erosion, flooding and landslides, an inventory of contaminated sites and the establishment of harmonised databases could be important elements for a Community policy on soil protection, as evidenced by, inter alia, Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the envi- ronment (3), Council Directive 86/278/EEC of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture (%), Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (’), Council Directive 99/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste (%), Council Regu- lation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) (°) and Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (19). () OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40. Directive as last amended by Directive 2003/35/EC of the European Parliament and the Council (O] L 156, 25.6.2003, p. 17). (®) OJ L 181, 4.7.1986, p. 6. Directive as last amended by Regulation (EQ) No 807/2003 (O] L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 36). (') OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7. Directive as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and the Council (OJ L 284, 31.10.2003, p. 1). (®) OJ L 182, 16.7.1999, p. 1. Directive as amended by Regulation (EQ) No 1882/2003. (®) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 80. Regulation as last amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 2223/2004 (O] L 379, 24.12.2004, p. 1). ("9 OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Decision No 2455/2001/EC (O] L 331, 15.12.2001, p. 1).