Special Protection Areas for Wild Birds

The European Commission has decided to refer France to the European Court of Justice and to send a Reasoned Opinion (second warning letter) to Spain for failure to designate enough special protection areas for wild birds (SPAs) under the European Union's Wild Birds Directive. Commenting on the decisions Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström said: "Securing an adequate Community network of special protection areas for wild birds is a Commission priority to safeguard European biodiversity. We are therefore pursuing legal action against several Member States, including France and Spain. The Commission cannot overlook the fact that habitat loss has contributed to serious declines in the populations of many vulnerable wild bird species".

The Wild Birds Directive (Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds) is the Community's oldest piece of nature conservation legislation. It creates a comprehensive scheme of protection for the Community's wild bird species, covering the conservation of the most important bird habitats as well as controls on hunting and other forms of exploitation.

More information:
- Press release 26 February 2001 (European Commission)
- Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds (EUR-Lex)
- Council Resolution of 2 April 1979 concerning Directive 79/409/EEC (EUR-Lex)
- Convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals (EUR-Lex)
- Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (EUR-Lex)

GOB press release:
- Les Illes són la penúltima comunitat autònoma pel que fa a la superfície d’àrees proposades per formar part de la futura xarxa europea d’espais naturals protegits (08/07/1999)

Date of publication: 11/03/2001

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