22 March 1994

Doc. 7051

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS

Reply to Recommendation 1233 (1994)

on the European environmental policy

(1992-1993)

(adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 15 March 1994

at the 509th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies)

1.       The Committee of Ministers has examined Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1233 (1994) very carefully and reiterates its constant concern to see the Council of Europe play a specific role in the environmental field at European level. It has decided to bring Recommendation 1233 (1994) to the attention of the governments of the member States and to forward it to the Commission of European Communities, to the Steering Committee for the Conservation and Management of the Environment and Natural Habitats (CDPE) and to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE). It recalls that the Council of Europe played an active part in the Pan-European Ministerial Conference "An Environment for Europe" (Lucerne, April 1993). On that occasion, the European Ministers for the Environment recognised the Council of Europe's essential role in the field of nature conservation. The documents presented by the Council of Europe were approved by the Conference, which also gave a favourable reception to the idea of a European Nature Conservation Year in 1995. The Ministers invited the Council of Europe to continue its activities on protected areas, environmentally viable tourism, education and training.

2.       With regard to paragraph 20.i.a. of the Recommendation, a comparative study of protective legal instruments for the conservation of wildlife and landscapes outside protected areas will be undertaken in 1994 within the framework of the intergovernmental programme of activities.

3.       With regard to paragraph 20.i.b., the Committee of Ministers is closely following the preparations for the third Pan-European Ministerial Conference on the Environment, to be held in Sofia in 1995. In this connection, it will be recalled that the International Conference "Conserving Europe's Natural Heritage: Towards a European and Ecological Network" (Maastricht, November 1993) asked the Council of Europe to draw up a European biological and landscape diversity strategy. The results of this work and of that arising from the Lucerne Conference represent the Council of Europe's contribution to the Sofia Conference, for whose preparation the Steering Committee for the Conservation and Management of the Environment and Natural Habitats (CDPE) is responsible.

4.       With regard to paragraph 20.i.c., activities of a legal and technical nature are being carried out under the assistance and co-operation programmes for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

5.       With regard to paragraph 20.i.d., European Nature Conservation Year 1995 is designed to develop specific programmes of information, education and legal advice.