27 January 1994

Doc. 7010

1403-27/1/94-6-E

MOTION FOR A RECOMMENDATION

on the implementation of conventions on

the environment

presented by Mr HARDY and others1

1.       The global nature of the environment problems which our societies are faced with necessitates concerted international action as being the only way of finding a proper solution.

2.       The Assembly accordingly draws attention to the importance of existing international and European conventions, which are extremely valuable tools for international co-operation in the matter, and takes satisfaction in many of them being the work of the Council of Europe.

3.       The Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (the Bern Convention), is one effective instrument for pan-European implementation of biodiversity undertakings given at the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro.

4.       Unfortunately the effectiveness of conventions is often seriously impaired not only by States Parties not showing sufficient commitment to honouring their undertakings but also by the weakness, or lack, of supervisory and implementation machinery.

5.       In particular, the Assembly deplores that States Signatories to conventions often enter so many and such large reservations as to void their undertakings of all substance.

6.       The Assembly is particularly alarmed that, for lack of both financial and secretarial resources, the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention is considering meeting less often when implementation and supervision of the convention actually need reinforcing.

7.       The Assembly accordingly recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

      i.       make available the resources necessary for full implementation of Council of Europe environment conventions, particularly the Bern Convention;

      ii.       to reinforce, in general, the control systems of the existing and future conventions;

      iii.       invite member states to take whatever legislative, administrative and technical steps they can to ensure that the undertakings which they themselves have given are properly honoured.

Signed:       Hardy, Brennan, Granstedt, Kaliska, Rubner, Tummers, Kukk, Dromberg, Severinsen, G. Bjarnason, Vella, Pop, Lie, Szymanski, Ciemniak, Ruffy, Motiu, Grau I Buldu.

1 ¹This text only represents the views of the individual members who have signed it. It does not reflect a position adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly.