Doc. 10688

30 September 2005

Sustainable development of mountain regions

Recommendation 1638 (2003)

Reply from the Committee of Ministers

adopted at the 939^th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (28 September 2005)

1.        The Committee of Ministers has considered Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1638 (2003) on sustainable development of mountain regions and has taken note of its support for the Congress’ initiative set out in its Recommendation 130 (2003) on the European Charter for Mountains. It has also taken note of the Congress’ recommendation, including its Appendix.

2.       The Committee of Ministers recognises the specificity of mountain areas. It states this in the Guiding principles for sustainable spatial development of the European continent, which it adopted as a recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to member states in January 2001. Chapter V of this document, “Spatial development measures for different types of European regions”, includes mountain regions under point 4.

3.        The Committee for Biological and Landscape Diversity (CO-DBP) and the Bern Convention Standing Committee have been carrying out some work in this area with the help of certain instruments: the Committee of Ministers’ Resolution (76) 34 on the Ecological Charter for Mountain Regions in Europe, the European Diploma of Protected Areas, the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy (Action themes 2 and 10).

4.       Discussions within the Committee of Ministers have shown that some of the points may create problems for a number of member states. No consensus was reached on the advisability of furthering this work by the preparation and adoption of a Committee of Ministers’ recommendation to member states on mountain regions.