Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the oral evidence of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State to the Environmental Audit Committee of 31 January 2017, what powers of oversight and enforcement the Council of Europe has in relation to monitoring marine protected areas in compliance with the Bern Convention.

For Contracting Parties to the Bern Convention, who are Member States of the European Union, the Natura 2000 Network provides Member States’ contributions to the Emerald Network of protected areas established in accordance with the Bern Convention.

The rules established by European Council Directives 79/409/EEC and 92/43/EEC apply to these areas until we leave the European Union. If there is a complaint that a Bern Convention Contacting Party is not complying with its Convention obligations, this matter can be brought to the attention of the Bern Convention Standing Committee.

The Government is currently considering the impacts of leaving the EU, including future arrangements for existing legislation. This will include future arrangements for the Natura 2000 suite of sites.