64 Amendments of Kriton ARSENIS related to 2009/2108(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that the halting of biodiversity loss is of the utmost importance for the survival of fishing communities which are adversely effected by the depletion of fish stocks caused by various human activities;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that the protection of marine biodiversity is essential, since it leads to increased ecosystem resilience, and thus inter alia helps to alleviate climate change impacts; calls therefore on the Commission to take special measures to protect marine species and habitats most vulnerable to climate change, also ensuring that actions taken to adapt to, or reduce, the impact of climate change do not have adverse effects on marine biodiversity;
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Visa 17 a (new)
Visa 17 a (new)
17 a - having regard to EEA Report No 4/2009 “Progress towards the European 2010 biodiversity target” in particular the annex “SEBI 2010 Biodiversity indicator”
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Visa 17 b (new)
Visa 17 b (new)
17 b - having regard to the Commission Guidance document “Guidelines for the establishment of the Natura 2000 network in the marine environment. Implementation of the Habitats and Birds Directives” (May, 2007)
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Visa 17 c (new)
Visa 17 c (new)
17 c having regard to COM(2010) 4 final “THE EUROPEAN UNION’S BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 – and beyond
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Visa 17 d (new)
Visa 17 d (new)
17 d - having regard to the EU 2020 strategy
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Visa 17 e (new)
Visa 17 e (new)
17 e - having regard to the third United Nations Global Biodiversity Outlook
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas it has become clear from the Commission's Communications that the EU willhas not meet its 2010 biodiversity target,
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that marine species and habitats enjoy less protection than terrestrial species and habitats in EU biodiversity legislation, and therefore calls on the Commission to assess the weaknesses in the legislation and its implementation; further notes that the various conventions for the regional seas around the EU, such as OSPAR, HELCOM and Barcelona, provide an important framework for protecting marine ecosystems;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Reminds the Commission and Member States that the Marine Strategy Directive does not limit the use of marine protected areas to Natura 2000, and therefore requests that Member States and the Commission take account of and create linkages between all marine protected areas, including those designated under Regional Seas Conventions, with the aim of creating a coherent and comprehensive network;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on the Commission to mainstream the ecosystem approach, already adopted by the Water Framework Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, in all EU policies affecting marine biodiversity; stresses further that ecosystem services, include, but are not limited to, carbon storage and sequestration by natural ecosystems;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Stresses the need for further action in the field of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and Maritime Spatial Planning as these could be important elements of a participatory ecosystem approach, ensuring the conservation and sustainable management of marine and coastal resources, respecting natural processes and ecosystem carrying capacity;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas several factors have prevented the EU from achieving its 2010 target, such as incomplete implementation of legislation, incomplete and poor integration into sectoral policies, insufficient scientific knowledge and data gaps, lack of political will, insufficient funding, lack of additional efficiently- targeted instruments to tackle specific problems such as invasive alien species,
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the Commission to act with the highest level of ambition for the restoration of biodiversity and natural ecosystems within the broader EU marine environment; stresses further that restoration efforts could form a significant source of employment for coastal communities;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Calls on the EU to ensure that equity is safeguarded at the European and global level, giving due consideration to the policy option of payments for ecosystem services; further stresses the need to safeguard and extend the application of the 'polluter pays' principle as well as the full-cost recovery principle;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the loss of biodiversity gives rise to substantial economic and welfare losses, in the same order of magnitude as the cost of inaction on climate change;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls on the Commission to ensure that awareness and involvement of all sectors of society and the general public is included in the post-2010 EU vision for biodiversity;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas a recent study by Eurobarometer shows that EU citizens are largely unfamiliar with the term biodiversity and the consequences of the loss of biodiversitymore than 8 in 10 EU citizens (84%-93%) felt that biodiversity loss was a very or fairly serious problem at national, European and global levels,
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
F a. G. whereas the precautionary principle constitutes a legal basis to be applied in all legislation and decisions affecting biodiversity.
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Expresses itsIs deeply concerned about the very fast pace of human-induced biodiversity loss which, if it continues as in the last decades, will leave us with a greatly impoverished nature by 2050and irreversibly damaged nature by 2050; and underlines that functioning ecosystems are a prerequisite for our subsistence;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Highlights the fact biodiversity is the most important indicator of good environmental status
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Recognises that NGOs have important role to play in biodiversity protection, as regards contributing to decision-making process, as actors on the ground, and in raising the public awareness;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Stresses the importance of integrated environmental accounting to analyse the link between the environment and the economy at European, national and regional level to assess the effects of production and consumption patterns on the natural resources and calls on the member state to continually provide Eurostat and the European Environment Agency with the necessary data
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Agrees, nevertheless, with the TEEB study report that measurement of the economic value of biodiversity faces methodological limitations and should not overshadow the ethical and inter- generational aspects of biodiversity conservation.
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Is deeply concerned about the absence of sense of urgency of halting the loss of biodiversity on the international political agenda
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Expresses itsDeeply regrets that the EU's objective, as agreed to at the European Summit in Gothenburg in 2001, to halt biodiversity loss by 2010 has not been met;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes furthermore the conclusions on biodiversity of the March 15 Environment Council, including the new headline target of halting the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU by 2020 and restoring them in so far as feasible and the European Council Conclusions of 25-26 March 2010 confirming the urgent need to reverse continuing trends of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation; stresses that binding targets are of outmost importance to prevent that targets are not met in 2020;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Believes that halting biodiversity loss constitutes the absolute minimum level of ambition to be realised by 2020Calls on the Commission and member states to act with the highest level of ambition adopting option 4 of the Commission communication of January 2010 for a target seeking to ‘Halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU by 2020 and restore them insofar as possible, and step up EU´s contribution to averting global biodiversity loss;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Given the global character of biodiversity and ecosystems, is convinced that the future EU strategy shouldmust also step up international efforts to avert biodiversity loss; as studies such as TEEB have delivered sufficient evidence that doing this is cost effective and feasible;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Recognises that a correct implementation of Natura 2000 legislation plays a major role in achieving the EU's biodiversity objective; climate change, and sustainable development objectives; emphasizes that the Natura 2000- approach has already shown remarkable successes
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Remains concerned, regardless of tangible and positive resultdespite the positive and tangible results achieved by some Member States in the conservation status of several species, about the full and thorough implementation of Natura 2000 legislation; urges the Member States to give higher priority to the implementation of Natura 2000;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Welcomes the progress made in some Member States in the designation of Natura 2000 sites andfact that the Natura 2000 network represents 18% of the EU territory (on land) and the early progress made in the formulation of conservation measures or management plans; calls on allis dismayed at the failure of Member States to respect the deadlines laid down in the Directive; and therefore urges Member States to take prompt action to achieve full implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Expresses its concern about the lack of progress in the establishment of the Natura 2000 network in the marine environment and asks the Commission and member states to speed up the necessary procedures;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Recalls that the establishment of a coherent NATURA 2000, requires the maintenance of those features of the landscape which are of major importance for wild flora and fauna; calls therefore on the Commission and Member States to actively engage in maintaining and developing the connectivity of protected areas, whether terrestrial or marine, as well as agricultural areas of high nature value.
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Stresses that the few remaining roadless areas in Europe should be an important focus of conservation efforts and that the design of new routes should strongly avoid dissecting them; calls also for roadless areas to be included in the Habitats Directive as new target or site category.
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Given these differences between Member States, invites the Commission to provide further clarificationtake prompt action to ensure the enforcement of the Directives or to provide guidance where necessary;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Furthermore expresses its concern about the lack of cross-border cooperation, which can lead to identical areas being approached differently;Believes that better cross-border cooperation could have significant benefits to meeting the Natura 2000 objectives
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Invites the Commission and Member States to give priority to the protection and restoration of wetlands, irrespective of their special protection status, noting their important role for biodiversity and wide array of ecosystem services.
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Calls on the Commission take action to establish cross-compliance criteria of current law, decisions and the protection of biodiversity.
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19 b. Calls on the Commission to safeguard European biodiversity with regard to the release of genetically modified organisms in the natural environment
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Therefore, calls on the Commission to ensure a further mainstreaming of biodiversity into other EU policy areas – such as industry, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, regional policy and cohesion, transport, tourism, research and innovation – in a mutually reinforcing way; furthermore, calls for measures to ensure that EU funding does not contribute to negative biodiversity impacts;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Welcomes the previous attempts to integrate environmental considerations into the common agricultural policy (CAP), such as the introduction of agri- environment measures and good agriculture and environmental conditions, and calls on the Commission to use the reform of the CAP as an opportunity to further enhance this trendconcludes however that this has not gone far enough and many of today's agricultural practices continue to be a driver for biodiversity loss, therefore calls on the Commission to use the reform of the CAP as an opportunity to change the CAP into a policy that rewards the delivery of well defined public goods and to make sure that only sustainable ways of farming are funded in the future, for example through the introduction of compensation for eco-services or the provision of public goods, including sustainable farming in ecologically sewhereby the benefits for nature must constitive areas, such as Natura 2000 sites; ute the guiding principle;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. Taking into account the economic, social and environmental value of agricultural and livestock genetic diversity, urges the Commission to define specific priority targets to halt the loss of genetic diversity and halt the loss of native species; calls further for the adoption of a definition of "native" / "non-native” breeds and measures for their conservation.
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Welcomes the reform of the common fisheries policy currently being prepared and calls on the Commission to mainstream biodiversity criteria in its future legislative proposals; furthermore,insists that aquaculture activities need to be developed without impacting other species and in compliance with targets set under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Water Framework Directive, and Birds and Habitats Directives; furthermore calls for the Commission to require that fisheries management plans ensure prompt recovery and maintenance of marine biodiversity and insists that, as a possible alternative to fishing, sustainable aquaculture models shouldand future aquaculture legislative framework be developed along the lines proposed by the Commission in its Communication (COM(2009)162) and taking into account the European Parliament's position (*);
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Urges Member States to design their forestry policy in a way that takes fully into account the role of forests as a reserve for biodiversity, soil retention and formation, carbon sequestration and air purification characteristics and for purposes of recreation for our citizens;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Welcomes the Commission's communication 2008/645 on addressing the challenges of deforestation and forest degradation to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, which calls for halting the global forest cover loss by 2030 at the latest;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23 b. In this context expresses its deep concern over the Commission’s decision not to propose legally binding criteria for the sustainable use of bioenergy as this is likely to pose a direct threat to forest biodiversity as well as efforts to tackle climate change, urges the Commission to review this decision and to propose legally binding criteria and measures;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Stresses the need for further action in the field of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and Maritime Spatial Planning as these could be important elements of a participatory ecosystem approach, ensuring the conservation and sustainable management of marine and coastal resources, respecting natural processes and ecosystem carrying capacity.
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Regrets the failure to formulate a policy for soil protection, as foreseen in the 6th Environment Action Programme; calls on the Commission and the Council to take action for the prevention of soil degradation and the loss of soil biodiversity.
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26 a. Calls on the Commission to issue guidelines for the protection of those species and habitats most vulnerable to climate change.
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
Paragraph 26 b (new)
26 b. Calls on the Commission to ensure that actions taken in the context of climate change mitigation and adaptation do not have adverse effects on marine and terrestrial biodiversity
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28 a. Calls on the Commission to act with the highest level of ambition for the restoration of biodiversity and natural ecosystems within the broader EU environment; stresses further that restoration efforts could form a significant source of employment for the communities;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 b (new)
Paragraph 28 b (new)
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Takes note of the Commission'’s estimates that full implementation ofin 2004 for the annual cost of managing the Natura 2000 legislation is expected to cost EUR 6.1 billionnetwork at EUR 6.1 billion; points out however, that according to the TEEB report, the return on biodiversity conservation investment is up to hundred times more;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29 a. Reiterates the need to foresee dedicated funding for community co- financing of Natura 2000 management in the next financial perspective 2014-2020;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30 a. Calls therefore on the Commission to give biodiversity its own budget line for the 2014-2020 period.
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30 a. Calls therefore on the Commission to give biodiversity its own budget line for the 2014-2020 period.
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32 a. Welcomes the recommendation made by IUCN for 0,3% of GDP to be spent on national biodiversity conservation measures;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Stresses the need to develop a clear baseline, on the basis of which the Commission is to set realistic and evidence-based (sub-)targetsmeasure progress towards the (sub-)targets; welcomes in this context biodiversity baseline developed by the European Environmental Agency;
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36 a. Stresses however that the lack of scientific evidence should not hinder the application of a precautionary approach
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Welcomes the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya in October 2010 and urges the EU to send a broad delegation to this conference;well prepared and coordinated to this conference; underlines the necessity for the EU to define a strong and coherent position upstream
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)
Paragraph 40 a (new)
40 a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to support the mainstreaming of biodiversity into global processes such as the Millennium Development Goals
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)
Paragraph 43 a (new)
43 a. Supports the creation of an International Scientific Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES);