Question for written answer E-006016/2020 to the Commission Rule 138 Marie Toussaint (Verts/ALE), Michèle Rivasi (Verts/ALE), David Cormand (Verts/ALE), Karima Delli (Verts/ALE), Yannick Jadot (Verts/ALE), Damien Carême (Verts/ALE), Mounir Satouri (Verts/ALE), Caroline Roose (Verts/ALE), Benoît Biteau (Verts/ALE), Claude Gruffat (Verts/ALE), Salima Yenbou (Verts/ALE), Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield (Verts/ALE), François Alfonsi (Verts/ALE), Tilly Metz (Verts/ALE) Subject: French compliance with the Natura 2000 directives A judgment of the Court of Justice of 4 March 2010 criticised France, which is governed by the Habitats (1992) and Birds (2009) Directives that form the Natura 2000 network, for incorrect transposition. France had considered that hunting did not constitute activities causing disturbance to Natura 2000 sites. The subsequent amendment to the Environmental Code repealed the contested provision, but the legislation did not follow suit. Indeed, neither the national list of activities subject to the impact assessment procedure (Environmental Code, Article R414-19) nor local lists (Article R414- 20) include hunting, hence any decision concerning the assessment is referred to the prefect. Therefore, there is effectively no assessment. For example, in the Ramières Special Protection Area (classified as a national nature reserve), 13 species of bird that justified the site being designated an SPA are hunted, and there has been no Natura 2000 impact assessment. Some 58 000 citizens signed a petition calling for an end to hunting on this site. Given the decline in biodiversity, can the Commission insist that France complies with the Natura 2000 directives by making hunting subject to an impact assessment? PE661.139v01-00.