1: Implementing the biodiversity convention in the European Union: a challenge for policy integration

During the last decades reduction and losses of biodiversity have accelerated dramatically. Existing measures have proved to be insufficient to reverse present trends. The underlying causes to this problem stem from the design and implementation of a number of sectoral and horizontal policies. In order to address this problem, the European Commission adopted on 4 February 1998 a "Communication to the Council and to the Parliament on a European Community Biodiversity Strategy" (COM (1998) 42). This strategy defines the priority Community objectives for preserving biodiversity and announces the process and methodology that will be followed to attain these objectives. Overall the strategy aims to anticipate, prevent and attack the causes of significant reduction or loss of biodiversity at the source. This should help both to reverse present trends in biodiversity reduction or losses and to place species and ecosystems, which includes agro-ecosystems, at a satisfactory conservation status, both within and beyond the territory of the Union. In March 2001 the European Commission adopted a second Communication to the Council and the European Parliament including specific sectoral "Biodiversity Action Plans in the areas of Conservation of Natural Resources, Agriculture, Fisheries and Development and Economic Co-operation" (COM (2001) 162). With the adoption of this framework biodiversity strategy and the specific Biodiversity Action Plans, the Commission made the necessary steps towards implementing the most important obligation of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) of which the Community is a party. 

These Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans should also be seen as key instruments for achieving the target of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 set in the EU Sustainable Development Strategy. Progress in the implementation of the strategy and the performance of the Action Plans and other measures will be monitored and assessed using biodiversity indicators and measurable targets. This will also provide guidance as to further actions needed.