NATURA 2000

French Audit

October 2004

Audit’s purpose

Choice for the subject matter

Audit’s main outlines:

- Difficulties in implementing measures

- Complexity of the French frame

- Misuse of public supplies

Audit’s conclusions

Difficulties in implementing measures

A huge delay in adapting Directives

France is one of the lowest ranking in the European context

Only a few contracts drawn with farmers

Natura 2000 French sites

Source: ministère de l’Ecologie et du développement durable August 2004

European statistics on Directive BirdsMember State Birds Directive

Number of sites classified Total classified area (Km2) % of national territory

België/Belgique 36 4,313 14,1 %

Danmark 111 9,601 22,3 %

Deutschland 466 28,977 8,1 %

Ellas 151 13,703 10,4 %

Espana 416 78,252 15,5 %

France 155 11,749 2,1 %

Ireland 109 2,236 3,2 %

Italia 392 23,403 7,8 %

Luxembourg 13 160 6,2 %

Nederland 79 10,000 24,1 %

Osterreich 95 12,353 14,7 %

Portugal 47 8,671 9,4 %

Suomi 452 28,373 8,4 %

Sverige 436 27,236 6,1 %

United Kingdom 242 14,704 6,0 %

EUR 15 3,200 273,731

European statistics on Directive Habitats Member State Habitats Directive

Number of sites classified Total classified area (Km2) % of national territory

België/Belgique 271 3,184 10,4 %

Danmark 194 10,259 23,8

Deutschland 3,536 32,151 9,0 %

Ellas 239 27,641 20,9 %

Espana 1,276 118,496 23,5 %

France 1,202 41,300 7,5 %

Ireland 381 10,000 14,2 %

Italia 2,330 44,237 14,7 %

Luxembourg 47 383 14,9 %

Nederland 141 7,505 18,1 %

Osterreich 160 8,896 10,6 %

Portugal 94 16,500 17,9 %

Suami 1,665 47,932 14,2 %

Sverige 3,420 60,372 13,4 %

United Kingdom 601 24,721 10,1 %

EUR 15 15,557 453,577

Complexity of the French frame

The role of central authorities: Ministries

The place of the Government’s representative and of the public agencies

Actors of the local governments: « Communes » & « Départements »

The place of private bodies

Farmers and landowners

Misuse of public supplies

French supplies mainly used for documentation and studies

According to European rules, European subsidies cannot be granted as far as state Member does not implement his own support

Source: ministère de l’Ecologie et du développement durable janvier 2003

€M 1999 2000 2001 2002

studies 1,52 1,52 1,14 1,14

DOCOB 9,35 11,02 13,03 17,35

contracts 0 0 0 0.7

total 10.87 12.54 14.17 19.19

French supplies

French audit main conclusions

Considering the reasons of failure:

A huge misunderstanding between government and other French actors

Encouraging French reform:

France is now on the way to obtain good results