[ParlTrack]

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11

(11) Halting and reversing the loss of biodiversity and improving resource efficiency, together with addressing environment and health related concerns, remain key challenges for the Union. These challenges require increased efforts at Union level to provide solutions and best practices that help achieving the targets of the Communication from the Commission ‘Europe 2020: a strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth’ (hereinafter the ‘Europe 2020 Strategy’). In addition, improved governance, in particular through awareness raising and stakeholders'’ involvement, is essential to deliver environmental objectives. T~~herefore the sub-programme for Environment should have three~~o achieve these objectives, the Union – recognising the fundamental importance of biodiversity conservation in the outermost regions – should affirm the voluntary scheme for promoting conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services in territories of the EU outermost regions and overseas countries and territories (BEST) in those outermost regions referred to in Article 349 TFEU to which EU environmental protection legislation (Directives 92/43/EC and 2009/147/EC) does not apply, thus drawing on the experience acquired through EU nature conservation policy and particularly Natura 2000. Therefore the sub- programme for Environment should have four priority areas for action: Environment and Resource Efficiency, Biodiversity, ~~and~~ Environmental Governance and Information, and BEST in the outermost regions. It should be possible for projects financed by the LIFE Programme to contribute to the achievement of the specific objectives of more than one of those priority areas and to involve the participation of more than one Member State.

2012/06/25
Committee: REGI

Younous OMARJEE

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)

(14a) The outermost regions of the Union constitute a unique reserve for a range of species and ecosystems of prime importance in terms of biodiversity conservation at European level and worldwide. The outermost regions, along with the overseas countries and territories, are home to more native animal and plant species than the entire continent of Europe. Given, moreover, that the French outermost regions are excluded from Natura 2000 because Directives 92/43/EC and 2009/147/EC do not take into account, or list, their fauna, flora or habitats; taking into account the ‘Message from Reunion Island’ of July 2008; and in accordance with the Council conclusions of 10 December 2011 encouraging the Commission and the Member States to promote a joint approach to nature conservation throughout the Union, including in the Member States’ outermost regions and overseas countries and territories, as well as the Commission Communication entitled ‘Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020’, in which the Commission undertook to expand and encourage the BEST initiative, this Regulation should, as part of its sub-programme for Environment, make biodiversity and ecosystem services in the outermost regions referred to in Article 349 TFEU a specific ongoing area of priority, thus consolidating the BEST preparatory action, which was launched in 2011 and is proving very successful.

2012/06/25
Committee: REGI

Younous OMARJEE

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

1. The sub-programme for Environment shall have ~~three~~four priority areas:

2012/06/25
Committee: REGI

Younous OMARJEE

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – indent 3 a (new)

- Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the Outermost Regions of the Union

2012/06/25
Committee: REGI

Younous OMARJEE

Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 a (new)

Article 12a Specific objectives for the priority area Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the Outermost Regions of the Union The specific objectives of the sub- programme for Environment for the priority area Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the Outermost Regions of the Union shall in particular be: (a) to promote the establishment and encourage the sound management of protected land and sea areas in the outermost regions of the Union, while taking account of existing protected areas; (b) to manage land-based and marine resources sustainably, thus contributing to the protection of important habitats, species and ecosystem functions outside the protected areas; (c) to improve the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the outermost regions of the EU: (i) by seeking to reduce the overall impact of climate change on ecosystems through care to keep them sound and resilient and through the promotion of green infrastructure and ecosystem-based approaches to mitigating and adapting to climate change – which, in many cases, offer a range of advantages; (ii) by pooling capacity at local and at regional level, including in neighbouring countries, and encouraging exchanges of information and good practice among all those actively concerned, including local administrative bodies, landowners, the private sector, researchers, civil society, etc.; (iii) by strengthening existing nature conservation programmes and making greater efforts both within and outside conservation areas; (iv) by expanding the knowledge base and remedying gaps in knowledge, notably through measurement of the value of ecosystem functions and services; (d) to encourage and facilitate cross- border research and to study the questions of invasive alien species, the impact of climate change and the implementation of the relevant international agreements, particularly the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the three Rio conventions (the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and UN Convention to Combat Desertification); (e) complete the development of mechanisms to boost resources, including ‘payments for ecosystem services’ (PES).

2012/06/25
Committee: REGI

Younous OMARJEE

Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1

1. The maximum co-financing rate for the projects referred to in Article 18 shall be 70% of eligible costs. By way of exception, the maximum co-financing rate for projects referred to in Article 18 points (d) and (f) shall be 80% of eligible costs. For projects referred to in Article 12a the maximum co-financing rate shall be 95%.

2012/06/25
Committee: REGI

6 Amendments of Younous OMARJEE related to 2011/0428(COD)

ParlTrack - 2011-2024