Protection of forests in the EU

27.2.2015

Question for written answer E-003184-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Maite Pagazaurtundúa Ruiz (ALDE)

Forests represent an environmental asset that is vital for combating climate change, pollution and the rise in greenhouse gases in Europe.

In the past there have been cases in Spain where forest fires have been deliberately started for hidden economic reasons. The current Forestry Law lays down a period of 30 years for the reclassification of burnt terrain following a forest fire. However, this law has been amended by the Spanish Council of Ministers to put an end to this moratorium and is to be remitted to parliament in the course of the next few weeks. Furthermore, the reform will prevent forest rangers from investigating and passing on their reports to the prosecuting authorities in criminal cases, in other words, in serious cases of arson.

The European Commission has insisted on protection by way of programmes such as the Forest Focus scheme and the Natura 2000 network. However, it has also insisted on shared responsibility, even though forestry policy falls within the sphere of competence of the Member States.

1. Will the Commission implement more mechanisms for protecting forests?

2. Does the Commission consider that this new law is in breach of the EU’s forestry strategy (COM(2013) 659)?

3. What criteria for sustainable forest management does the Commission envisage?