Activities of Michel DANTIN related to 2015/2324(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Highlights the importance of the Alpine region as a place for people to live, work and relax in, thanks to the vital contributions made by agriculture and forestry, tourism and craft trades; notes that mountain agriculture in the Alps respects the environment and ensures the sustainable management of natural resources and the conservation of the landscape; welcomes the EU Alpine Strategy as a way to improve economic, environmental and social development in the Alpine region;

2016/03/21
Committee: AGRI

Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)

Ab. whereas the Alpine Region makes a positive contribution to sustainable development, to the fight against climate change, to preserving and protecting regional ecosystems and biodiversity; whereas a large proportion of these territories are protected under the Natura 2000 ecological network and by other nature conservation agreements;

2016/02/25
Committee: ENVI

Michel DANTIN, Herbert DORFMANN, Elisabeth KÖSTINGER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that in the Alpine region largely man-made urbanised environments coexist alongside areas of sparsely populated mountain country; takes the view that the strategy should focus primarily on the latter because they have immense potential for the region as a whole;deleted

2016/02/25
Committee: ENVI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Notes that the Alpine region is Europe’s ‘water tower’ and that the Alps provide enough water to provide up to 90% of the needs of the foothill areas in summer; also notes that the Alps constitute Europe's main biomass reserve; stresses that water is important for hydroelectricity, the irrigation of agricultural land, the sustainable management of forests, preserving biodiversity and the landscape and providing drinking water, which will be even more crucial in coming years in view of climate change; stresses, therefore, the need to step up the exchange of best practices and cross-border cooperation in connection with the Alpine Convention’s Water Management Platform between the national bodies responsible for the management of water and river basins;

2016/03/21
Committee: AGRI

Michel DANTIN, Herbert DORFMANN, Elisabeth KÖSTINGER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Notes that the Alpine region was able at a very early stage to benefit from its waterways by producing hydroelectric power; takes the view that it should be possible to subsidise exchanges of good practice and the modernisation of structures using EU funds, with a view to responding to the growing demand for energy and the influx of tourists;

2016/03/21
Committee: AGRI

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas th~~is region constitutes an interconnected macro-region with~~e Alpine region possesses unique geographical and natural features, whereas it constitutes an interconnected macro-region and transit region which has substantial potential for development, but whereas specific responses are needed to challenges arising from environmental, demographic, transport, tourism and energy-related issues, seasonality and multi-activity, and whereas coordinated territorial planning could produce better results and added value for territorial cohesion of Alpine and peri-Alpine areas;

2016/04/27
Committee: REGI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Believes that climate change poses serious risks from the point of view of hydrogeological instability and biodiversity and that the melting of glaciers is a further cause of concern; points to the need, therefore, to promote production models based on the circular economy, with the emphasis on preference for local materials~~, reuse, and service sharing~~ and the local reuse of primary resources, including wastewater and agricultural waste; recalls that the management of risks linked to climate change should take into account the structural and organisational vulnerabilities of Alpine societies; stresses the need to step up the exchange of best practices and cross- border cooperation in the area of climate risk management, but despite the common risks and challenges facing the Alpine Region, it is necessary to take into account all the territorial sensitivities;

2016/02/25
Committee: ENVI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Notes that the management and reintroduction of birds of prey and carnivores in the Alpine region is carried out at national and local level although these species do not recognise administrative borders and migration is a cross-border phenomenon by nature in the Alpine region; feels that it is essential, as part of the Alpine strategy and in connection with the Large Carnivores, Wild Ungulates and Society Platform of the Alpine Convention, to improve the exchange of information and best practices and the cross-border protection and management of these species;

2016/03/21
Committee: AGRI

Jérôme LAVRILLEUX, Marc JOULAUD, Michel DANTIN

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas the Alpine Region is Europe’s ‘water tower’ and the Alps supply enough water to provide up to 90% of the needs of the foothill areas in summer; whereas water is important for hydroelectricity, the irrigation of agricultural land, the sustainable management of forests, preserving biodiversity and the landscape and providing drinking water; whereas it is essential to preserve the quality of waters and the low water levels of rivers in the Alps and to find a fair balance between the interests of local populations and the needs of the environment;

2016/04/27
Committee: REGI

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas free movement of persons is a fundamental right and a prerequisite – particularly in border areas – to reaching the goals of economic, social, territorial and environmental cohesion, strong and sustainable competitiveness and equitable access to employment;

2016/04/27
Committee: REGI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Considers that investment needs to be channelled, as a matter of priority, towards climate change ~~adaptation and counteracting hydrogeological instability, including forest management and agricultur~~; recalls the vital importance of agriculture and the sustainable management of land and forests in the Alps in order to protect them against negative effects on the environment and the landscape, and the effects of climate change;

2016/02/25
Committee: ENVI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Welcomes the fact that the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIFs) offer potentially significant resources and a wide range of tools and options for the Strategy; ~~notes the availability of~~calls for greater synergy, promoting coordination and complementarities with the European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) and other funds and instruments relevant to the Strategy pillars, notably Horizon 2020, the Connecting Europe Facility, the LIFE programme, and the COSME programme for SMEs, for which the Commission should investigate the possible added value of specific calls focused on the particular challenges of the Alpine region;

2016/04/27
Committee: REGI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Recalls that the integrated management of water resources is one of the keys to the sustainable development of the Alps; recalls that the natural risks, including water risks, could have a spillover effect on lowlands and built-up areas; stresses, therefore, the need to step up the exchange of best practices and cross-border cooperation in connection with the Alpine Convention’s Water Management Platform between the national bodies responsible for the management of water and river basins in order to meet the shared challenges caused by climate change;

2016/02/25
Committee: ENVI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Commission to expand education and consultancy structures for agricultural and forestry workers (e.g. training for alpine farming consultants), B. to provide a macro-regional training network and to intensify cooperation and networking between educational, ~~scientific and industrial~~economic and scientific institutions (e.g. inter-branch trainee and exchange programmes) with a view to promoting green growth in the context of joint research programmes; notes that mountainous areas have always been a major source of innovation, particularly for overcoming natural handicaps;

2016/03/21
Committee: AGRI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Notes that, in the Alps, the same person is often required to carry out different activities over the course of a year, sometimes across borders; calls on the Commission, the Member States and local authorities to encourage cooperation between (initial and continuous) professional training operators; stresses the benefits which an Erasmus+ programme devoted to cross-border learning could bring;

2016/03/21
Committee: AGRI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Supports strategic planning ~~among~~in both urban and rural areas of the Alpine areasgion, with a view to promoting networking and common targets in a coherent and coordinated policy framework (e.g. with reference to renewable energies, welfare, logistics, and business and social innovation);

2016/04/27
Committee: REGI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Notes that mountainous terrain remains an obstacle to bringing European citizens closer together and that the EU has committed itself to increase funding for cross-border transport infrastructure;

2016/03/21
Committee: AGRI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. ~~Maintains that protected areas are a~~ Stresses the need for active cooperation between economic activities and activities aimed at protescting~~-ground for best practice that can be exported to all parts of~~ and safeguarding biodiversity in Natura 2000 sites and in other protected areas located in the Alpine rRegion:;

2016/02/25
Committee: ENVI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Notes that the management and the reintroduction of birds of prey and carnivores in the Alpine Region is carried out at national and local level, while these species do not recognise administrative borders, and that migration is a cross- border phenomenon by nature in the Alpine Region; feels that it is essential, as part of the Alpine strategy and in connection with the Large Carnivores, Wild Ungulates and Society Platform of the Alpine Convention, to step up the exchange of best practices and the cross- border protection and management of these species;

2016/02/25
Committee: ENVI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Believes that ~~citizens and local businesse~~local and regional authorities, civil society and economic actors have to be involved in the decision- making process concerning the strategy, with a view to promoting the development and protection of the Alpine Region.

2016/02/25
Committee: ENVI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Stresses the importance of increasing the economic potential of strategic sectors – agriculture, forestry, tourism, energy, the bioeconomy, organic products, health and the latest technologies – and giving strong backing to SMEs, which should be linked to research centres;

2016/04/27
Committee: REGI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Emphasises that a macro-regional strategy for the Alps should secure the preservation of forms of traditional and craft-based economic activityies as well as fostering innovation and the development of new initiatives in this field;

2016/04/27
Committee: REGI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Notes that, in the Alps, the same person is often required to carry out different activities over the course of a year, sometimes on a cross-border basis; calls on the Commission, the Member States and local authorities to encourage cooperation between bodies providing initial and in-service professional training; stresses the benefits which an Erasmus+ programme devoted to cross- border apprenticeships could bring;

2016/04/27
Committee: REGI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Stresses the importance of improving transport and energy connectivity among the participating countries, including local, regional and cross-border transport and intermodal connections with the hinterland, ~~also~~ in order to boost the development of the region, enhance the quality of life of its inhabitants and attract new residents;

2016/04/27
Committee: REGI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Underlines the importance of connecting transport routes with other parts of Europe and the relevance of interconnections with TEN-T corridors; points out that mountainous terrain is still an obstacle to rapprochement between EU citizens, and that the EU has pledged to increase funding for cross-border transport infrastructure; calls on the participating countries to focus their efforts on implementing projects that are covered by the current TEN-T network;

2016/04/27
Committee: REGI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Notes that the Alpine region was able to benefit from its waterways at a very early stage by developing hydropower facilities; takes the view that it should be possible to use EU funds to foster exchanges of good practice and the modernisation of structures, with a view to responding to the growing demand for energy and the influx of tourists;

2016/04/27
Committee: REGI