Europes ecological backbone.pdf

Introduction and background
(EC, 2007b). Other EU policies and instruments
impact upon the forestry sector within Member
States and are linked to key actions contained in the
Action Plan. These include the Natura 2000 network
(discussed in more detail in Chapters 8 and 9); EU
climate policy (COM (2007)2/COM (2005) 35) and the
Directive on promotion of energy from renewable
resources (Directive 2009/28/EC).
Regional and cohesion policy
As noted in Section 1.2.3, a number of the European
Commission's reports on economic and social
cohesion specifically mentioned mountains among
other areas with 'permanent natural handicaps', and
this was again recognised in the Treaty of Lisbon. In
general, regional and cohesion policy impacts upon
Europe's mountain areas within the broader context
of reducing economic and social disparities between
regions across the EU and increasing the solidarity
of EU citizens. The policy has three objectives:
convergence; regional competitiveness and
employment; and European territorial cooperation.
These are implemented through the policy
instruments of the European Regional Development
Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF)
and the Cohesion Fund. Member States are able
to target interventions on mountain areas that fall
within the eligibility criteria associated with each
of these objectives; often within the broader scope
of their regional development strategies in relation
to the 'convergence' and 'regional competitiveness
and employment' objectives. However, the
'European territorial cooperation' objective includes
programmes specifically aimed at mountain regions.
The convergence objective involves funding
EU regions with GDP per capita of less than 75 %
of the EU average — and also certain regions, some
of which are mountainous, with an average GDP
that is slightly above the 75 % threshold due to the
statistical effect of EU enlargement — to support
the modernisation and diversification of economic
structures and to safeguard or create sustainable
jobs. ERDF and/or ESF measures address a wide
range of areas including research and development,
risk management, education, energy, environment,
tourism and culture. Additionally, the Cohesion
Fund supports Member States whose Gross
National Income (GNI) is 90 % per inhabitant of
the Community average. This fund focuses on
developing trans-European transport networks and
projects that can demonstrate clear environmental
benefits, for example relating to energy efficiency,
renewable energy use and transportation.
The regional competitiveness and employment
objective uses ERDF to support development
programmes helping regions promote economic
change through innovation and promotion of the
knowledge society, environmental protection and
improvement of accessibility. ESF support is applied
to create more and better jobs through workforce
adaptation and human resources investment.
One example is given in Box 1.1. The territorial
Box 1.1 The Midi-Pyrénées Operational Programme
The Midi-Pyrénées Operational Programme is funded through the ERDF and has the following priorities:
Priority 1
Priority 2
Priority 3
Priority 4
Priority 5
Priority 6
Priority 7
Enhance the research potential of competitiveness poles and regional networks of excellence
and modernise the higher education structures attached to them;
Develop competitiveness among businesses by means of a support policy focusing on aid for
projects, innovation and raising the level of professionalism;
Preserve and enhance the environmental capital of the Midi-Pyrénées;
Boost the development of the Pyrenees via a balanced and sustainable inter-regional policy;
Improve accessibility, attractiveness and local transport;
Support urban projects on social cohesion and multi-modality;
Technical assistance.
Under the programme, the Ecovars project, undertaken by the Pyrenean Botanical Conservatory, was
awarded EUR 47 580 to protect mountainous terrain from erosion and improve the local environment.
This was done by replanting seeds at newly developed ski resorts and on the sides of newly built roads to
protect and improve the Pyrenees by restoring its verdant alpine grasslands (EC, 2010a).
Source:
Calum Macleod (Centre for Mountain Studies, Perth College UHI, the United Kingdom).
Europe's ecological backbone: recognising the true value of our mountains
19