DIRECTORATE-GENERAL
ENVIRONMENT
Directorate B - Protecting the Natural Environment
ENV.B.2- Nature and Biodiversity
CGBN
Co-ordination Group
for Biodiversity and Nature
3rd meeting - 21/10/08
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3rd Meeting of the Co-ordination Group (for Biodiversity and Nature)
Tuesday 21st October 2008
Place: European Commission's Conference Centre "Albert Borschette" (Room 2A) - 36, rue Froissart - B-1040 Brussels (Schuman metro station)
Time: For Member States and EEA there will be a closed meeting starting at 9:30.
The open part of the meeting in which other stakeholders will participate will start at 11:00 until 17:30.
Chair: Patrick Murphy, Head of Unit ENV.B.2 Nature & Biodiversity
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Final Agenda
Statement from the Commission regarding the Register of Expert Groups
1) Record of Previous Meeting - 11.00
Objective for the 3rd meeting:
Have record approved and introduce amendments (to be signalled in advance of the meeting)
2) Biodiversity Action Plan - 11.15
A) Report from the Commission on the Progress towards the Completion of the Mid-Term Report on the Delivery of the BAP (Doc. 2.A-1)
The Commission intends to adopt the mid-term report by the end of November 2008. The Report will consist of the following elements:
· A 12-page official communication in all official languages bringing together all the main messages;
· An extensive annex describing the progress made at the EU level with regard to the delivery of the objectives, targets and actions in the BAP;
· A country profile for each Member State bringing together all key information concerning the progress made by each Member state towards the delivery of the objectives targets and actions in the BAP;
· An integrated profile for the main objectives and targets in the BAP and giving an overview of the delivery at the level of the EU and the Member States with regard to these objectives and targets;
· A summary of the relevant information from the SEBI 2010 biodiversity indicator project describing the status and trends of indicators relevant for biodiversity protection.
Objectives for the 3rd meeting:
In the Co-ordination Group, the Commission will make a short status report on the 2008 MTR but also set out the planning for the updating of the progress reports in 2009 and 2010 and the intentions concerning inputs from Member States and other stakeholders.
B) Reports from Other DGs on the Integration of Biodiversity Issues into other Policy Areas
- 11.45
Objectives for the 3rd meeting:
To date we have arranged for short, oral or written contributions from other DGs concerning the delivery of the actions foreseen in the BAP. However, the time available usually precludes the possibility for a meaningful debate. Indeed, when you take into account the importance of policy areas such as Agriculture, Fisheries, Regional Development, Transport, Energy, Trade, External Relations and Overseas Development, each of these topics would merit an extended discussion of at least half a day. The intention in the meeting is to discuss the most effective mechanism for engaging in a meaningful discussion on the linkages between biodiversity and each of the above-mentioned policy areas. Should we organize dedicated meetings? Would Member States wish to volunteer to take the lead to set up such meetings?
C) Issues linked to the BAP and which are the Subject of Targeted Actions or Initiatives – 12.15
- Biodiversity and Climate Change (Doc. 2.C-1 and 2.C-1bis)
- Green Infrastructure (Doc. 2.C-2)
- Sustainable Hunting Initiative (Doc. 2.C-3)
- Information Systems for Biodiversity and Nature
- Invasive Species (Doc. 2.C-4)
- TEEB II (Doc. 2.C-5)
- Business and Biodiversity (Doc. 2.C-6)
- Communication Strategy for Biodiversity and Nature (Doc. 2.C-7)
- Farming and High Value Nature Areas (Doc. 2.C-8)
Objectives for the 3rd meeting: The Commission will table short papers and also make short presentations concerning a) Information systems and b) TEEB II. With regard to the issue of Information systems the idea would be for the Commission to set out / describe its "vision" on how we see information collection, assessment and dissemination evolving over the next 5-10 years. On the question of phase II of The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), the Commission will present the concept and the planning until 2010.
With regard to the issue of biodiversity and climate change, the Commission would welcome reactions to the idea of setting up an expert group/reflection group to take develop this subject further. The principle of establishing such a group was discussed in the Nature Directors meeting in September.
With regard to the other items mentioned the Commission will prepare short written reports for information only (unless a Member State / stakeholder group indicates that it would wish to have a discussion in the meeting).
LUNCH BREAK
3) Implementation of Legislation
A) Issues Related to the Implementation of Both the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive - 14.00
- Reporting under the Habitats and Birds Directives (Doc. 3.A-1)
- Designation of off-shore marine sites in the Natura 2000 network (Doc. 3.A-2)
- Guidance document on wind energy (Doc. 3.A-3)
- Guidance document on Non-Energy Extractive Industry (Doc. 3.A-4)
- Guidance document on ports and estuaries (Doc. 3.A-5)
- Financing of Natura 2000 network (Doc. 3.A-6)
- Management of Natura 2000 sites and the Network (Doc. 3.A-7)
- Wilderness Areas (Doc. 3.A-8)
- Legal Issues / Court rulings relating to the two Nature Directives (Doc. 3.A-9)
- Nature Directives and Strategic Planning (Doc. 3.A-10)
- Nature Directives and working together with other related activities (Doc. 3.A-10)
Objectives for the 3rd meeting:
For the designation of Marine sites, the Commission will prepare a paper and there will be a short presentation followed by a discussion. For the remaining items the Commission will prepare a short, written progress report for information only (unless a Member State / stakeholder group indicates a wish to have a discussion in the meeting).
It is also proposed to have a short discussion on the priority issues for the work programme during 2009 and 2010. No background paper will be available for this discussion. The Commission will make a short statement and participants will be invited to offer their suggestions.
B) Issues Related to the Implementation of the Habitats Directive - 15.00
- Updating of the EU lists-progress (Doc. 3.B-1)
- Establishment of a Working/Expert Group on Wolves (Doc. 3.B-2 and 3.B-2bis)
Objectives for the 3rd meeting:
There will be a short written status report from the Commission for information only. Regarding the Wolf, the Commission would invite reactions to the idea of establishing an expert working group. At the recent meeting of the Nature Directors the principle of establishing such a group was discussed and it was agreed that the Terms of Reference for the Group would be presented at the Co-ordination Group. Accordingly, a paper was uploaded on CIRCA before the meeting.
C) Issues Relating to the Implementation of the Birds Directive - 15.30
- Management Plans (Doc. 3.C-1)
- Key Concepts Paper (Doc. 3.C-1)
- Sustainable Hunting Guide (Doc. 3.C-1)
- Action Plans (Doc. 3.C-1)
- Technical support to the Birds Directive (Doc. 3.C-1)
- Cormorants (Doc. 3.C-2)
- Vultures (Doc. 3.C-3)
Objectives for the 3rd meeting:
There will be a written paper plus a presentation followed by a discussion on key issues related to the way the Commission, Member States and stakeholders wish to work together in the future with regard to management plans, action plans, the key concepts paper and the sustainable hunting guide. These issues were discussed in an ad-hoc meeting which took place on 25-26 September and also briefly at the Nature Directors meeting in September.
With regard to the issue of cormorants, there will be a paper plus a presentation concerning the increasing pressure for an EU management plan for the great cormorant followed by a discussion on the most appropriate way to address this issue. The Commission will explore the possibility of arranging a presentation from representatives of the INTER CAFÉ project.
With regard to the issue of vultures, there will be a paper plus a presentation addressing the problems being caused to vultures and indeed to all carrion feeding birds as a consequence of the EU Legislation on BSE/TSE and animal by-products. Participants will be invited to discuss experiences in the different Member States plus the most appropriate way forward.
4) Future Planning (Doc. 4.1) - 17.00
Objectives for the 3rd meeting:
The Commission will present an overview of the timetable and planning of events, meetings and deliverables (guideline, reports, EU lists etc) linked to the work of the Co-ordination Group and its sub-groups over the next 18 months.
5) Other Items - 17.15
- AEWA
- CMS
Objectives for the 3rd meeting:
If appropriate and useful, specific technical issues relating to international meetings may be discussed.
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