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07-03-2006
Conflicting EU Funds - Bad examples for new members in use of EU funds
Brussels/Vienna - A new WWF report, "Conflicting EU funds", shows that despite the EU commitment to halt biodiversity loss by 2010, vast sums of European Union money are being spent on roads, dams and irrigation schemes which threaten critically endangered species and key habitats in Europe. The responsibility lies not just in poor coordination and decision making in Brussels but also and especially at national or regional levels.
As and plan their own use of EU funds, they would do well to learn from mistakes made in and other countries or risk losing some of their most valuable natural assets. Both and are currently in the midst of national programming for future use of EU funds in preparation for formally joining the EU in 2007 or latest 2008. Decisions being made this year will to a certain extent determine the future of the prodigious natural wealth both countries will bring with them to the EU, including Europe's largest populations of brown bears and wolves as well as the greatest remaining stands of virgin forest.
EU funds are being used to build roads and dams that are destroying the habitat of the Iberian lynx, the world's most endangered cat species. In , the remaining Iberian lynx population - with around 100 individuals left, including just 25 breeding females - is under major threat due to loss and fragmentation of its habitat from new construction work.
The WWF report presents eight case studies where competing plans funded by the EU are damaging biodiversity. In , for example, while the EU Commission Directorate General (DG) responsible for the environment is supporting a LIFE project to protect brown bears, the DG Regional Development is funding the planned Egnatia Highway, which directly threatens these animals.
EU plans to promote inland shipping on the Danube River, including the most valuable stretches of the Lower Danube between and and the Danube Delta, could seriously impact wetland areas along up to 1,000 km of the river. Removing "bottlenecks" on the Danube has been identified as one of 30 priority projects for the EU as part of its Trans-European Network for Transportation (TEN-T). Specific sections have been identified as priority areas for action, and it is feared that adaptations such as dredging, river training, canalisation and damming (to increase depth) will affect floodplains and affect species such as the Beluga Sturgeon along with the many bird species that utilise the Danube. To avoid repeating past mistakes, WWF recommends that existing and future EU Member States develop good national programmes that contribute to the 2010 goal of halting biodiversity loss, including strong support for nature conservation objectives as well as safeguards e.g. through effective application of Environmental Impact Assessments. Member States should also inform and involve interest groups and stakeholders, especially environmental advocates like WWF and other organisations, in developing plans for use of European funds. For more information: Luminita Tanasie, Communications Manager, WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme, Tel. + +40 744 163 283 Source: http://www.panda.org |
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