WRITTEN QUESTION E-1924/99 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission. Habitats Directive.
1. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 219 E/47 Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (7 December 1999) The Commission is currently in the process of finalising a Community strategy for endocrine disrupters, adoption of which was initially foreseen for March 1999, but which was delayed due to the resignation of the Commission. The objectives of the strategy are to identify the problem of endocrine disruption, its causes and consequences, and to identify appropriate policy action on the basis of the precautionary principle in order to respond quickly and effectively to the problem. The strategy focuses on man-made chemicals and addresses the key requirements of further research, international co-operation, communication to the public and appropriate policy action, all of which are elements of the resolution adopted by the Parliament in October 1998. Recommendations are made for actions in the short-, medium- and long-term to cover these requirements. Short-term actions represent a timeframe of 1-2 years and include the establishment of a list of substances for further evaluation of their role in endocrine disruption, the use of existing legislative instruments, the establishment of monitoring programmes, the identification of specific cases of consumer uses for special action, information exchange and international co-operation, communication to the public and consulta- tion of stakeholders. Medium-term actions will require a 2-4 year horizon and involve the development of agreed test methods (primarily in the framework of the Organisation for economic co-operation and development (OECD), the gathering of research results from ongoing research projects, the launching of further research to address new research requirements and the identification of substitutes and voluntary initiatives. Long-term actions will require a timeframe of more than 4 years and entail the amendment of existing and proposed legislation in order to take specific account of endocrine disrupters. The strategy has undergone an extensive consultation process. (2000/C 219 E/054) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1924/99 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission (4 November 1999) Subject: Habitats Directive What programme of action is the Commission proposing in order to ensure that all Member States implement the requirements of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC (1)) in their entirety? (1) OJ L 206, 22. 7. 1992, p. 7. Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (25 November 1999) The first stage of implementation of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, requires Member States to adopt and send implementing legislation to the Commission. The Commission has taken legal action against Member States which have not sent such legislation. A further crucial stage in the implementation of the Directive involves the proposal of national lists of sites by the Member States. Although it is more than four years since expiry of the deadline for such lists fixed by the Directive, most Member States have still not sent complete lists. The Commission will continue to pursue the legal actions it has already started for this failure