EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 19 December 2000 22/2000 WRITTEN DECLARATION for entry in the register pursuant to Rule 51 of the Rules of Procedure by Toine MANDERS, Elly PLOOIJ-VAN GORSEL, Jan MULDER, Jules MAATEN and Marieke SANDERS-TEN HOLTE on a study to be carried out into the unintended disproportionately adverse side- effects on the economy of the directive on the conservation of wild birds, the habitats directive and the Natura 2000 directive Expiry date: 19.03.2001 DV\428418EN.doc PE 299.538 EN EN 22/2000 Declaration on a study to be carried out into the unintended disproportionately adverse side-effects on the economy of the Directive on the conservation of wild birds, the habitats directive and the Natura 2000 directive The European Parliament, A. whereas the European Union has a great diversity of wild animals and plants, B. whereas these special natural resources must be protected by Community legislation, C. whereas in the past measures have been adopted to protect these resources, D. whereas in various Member States the package of regulatory measures (including the wild birds directive, habitats directive and Natura 2000 directive) is having unintended adverse side-effects on various sectors of the economy, E. whereas in the vicinity of the protected areas which have been designated not only farming, tourism and such economic activities as the operation of ports are hampered but also alternative energy production, for example using wind turbines, F. whereas this may distort the principles of the internal market, G. whereas it is necessary to know more about these unintended adverse effects before the legislation in question is assessed, 1. Calls on the Commission: • without delay to study unintended side-effects on existing economic activity, such as agriculture and recreation, of Community legislation (inter alia the wild birds directive, habitats directive and Natura 2000 directive) for the protection of special natural resources; • if this study confirms that undesirable side-effects are occurring, to assess the legislation in question and if necessary adjust or amend it; 2. Instructs its President to forward this declaration to the Commission. PE 299.538 2/2 DV\428418EN.doc EN .