WRITTEN QUESTION E-2666/99 by Francis Decourrière (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Directive 92/43/EEC.
8. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 225 E/189 in co-operation with Member States nature authorities, a The Commission is currently preparing, document called Interpretation guide to Article 6 of the Habitats Directive ü 92/43/EECí. Its main purpose will be to suggest a legal interpretation of terms and concepts used in this article. This document will reflect only the views of the Commission and will not be of a binding nature. As soon as the document is finalised, it will be available to all interested parties. (1) OJ L 103, 25. 4. 1979. (2000/C 225 E/211) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2666/99 by Francis DecourriŁre (PPE-DE) to the Commission (12 January 2000) Subject: Directive 92/43/EEC With regard to the application of Annex III of Council Directive 92/43/EEC (1) of 21 May 1992, Stage 2, paragraph 2(b) provides that the assessment of the Community importance of a site shall take account of the ágeographical situation of the site in relation to migration routes of species in Annex II and whether it belongs to a continuous ecosystem situated on both sides of one or more internal Community frontiersí. Socio-economic activities on either side of a frontier are sometimes completely different, since frontiers are governed by national law. For example, hunting and fishing are lawful and traditional activities in France in publicly-owned coastal land, whereas they do not exist on the other side of the frontier, in Belgium. 1. Since economic, social and cultural requirements and regional and local characteristics have to be taken into account (Article 2 of the directive), how does the Commission intend to reconcile managing these border sites of great ecological value (classified as nature reserves or biogenetic reserves), linked with an Annex II species (Phoca vitulina), with such variations in activity? 2. Should these sites be managed by a single body? 3. Will these cross-border sites benefit from special conditions, particularly financial conditions, in the introductory phase of Directive 92/43/EEC and in the context of its main application in 2004? (1) OJ L 206, 22. 7. 1992, p. 7. Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (4 February 2000) Site management is the responsibility of the Member States, under the terms of Article 6(1) of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. It is for each country to establish the conservation measures which correspond to the ecological requirements of the Annex II species present on the sites. The Commission is involved in the selection of sites but not their management. The Directive does not provide that cross-border sites should be managed by a single body. Each Member State and its neighbours must assess the degree of cooperation necessary to ensure that the Directiveís objective is achieved. Under Article 8 on the cofinancing of conservation measures for sites hosting priority habitats or species, the Directive does not give priority to cross-border sites. However, several Community instruments enable special attention to be given to these sites. The Commission encourages the Member States to use these instruments for Natura 2000 cross-border site management