Agri-environmental measures (€ 108.6 million) - A wide range of agri-environmental measures target the improvement of the environment, a decrease of agricultural pressure on it, the preservation of nature, biodiversity, soil fertility and traditional landscapes, and the maintenance of protected areas.

7. RECALLS that COP 7 adopted a Programme of Work on protected areas with the objective of the establishment and maintenance by 2010 for terrestrial and by 2012 for marine areas of a comprehensive, effectively managed, and ecologically representative national and regional systems of protected areas to be integrated in a global network; NOTES with great concern that implementation is lagging behind and EMPHASISES the need for more effective measures and adequate technical and financial support, including improved integration of protected areas as valuable assets in national and local development processes, to reach the goals and targets ...[+++]of the programme of work; in this context, UNDERLINES that COP 8 should adopt a mechanism and work schedule for a clear and efficient process to review implementation of the Programme of Work which should focus on the goals and targets contained therein, including the identification of obstacles, gaps and possible responses; HIGHLIGHTS the importance of ensuring further work of the Ad hoc Open-ended Working Group on Protected Areas to support and review progress on implementation;

In 1994 and as a replacement for the banned Democratic Party (DEP), accused of maintaining links with the terrorist organisation of the Kurdistan Workers Party, the People’s Democratic Party (HADEP) was created; the former members of the DEP who wished to become members of HADEP had to request the express permission of the government, which only allowed those who had no criminal record or against whom there had been no complaint to join. Since its creation, HADEP has been the dominant political force in the southeast of the country and controls the majority of the councils in the cities in this region; but also, since its inception, HA ...[+++]DEP has had the threat of being closed down hanging over its head.

6. Considers that the decisions of the Berlin European Council on reform of the common agricultural policy constitute the basis for negotiation with the objective of making it possible for the EU to secure the European agricultural model, based on family farms and characterised by multifunctionality, sustainable production of agricultural goods and management of the environment and preservation of the countryside; believes, in view of the plural nature of the European agricultural model, that particular attention must be paid to those forms of agriculture which are most at risk, namely small family-type farms, less-favoured areas and ar ...[+++]eas subject to environmental constraints; stresses the importance of agricultural trade, as Europe is the second largest exporter and largest importer of agricultural products;

Duration of the OP: 27.3.1991 - 31.12.1993 Funds concerned: EAGGF - Guidance Section, ERDF, ESF Regional scope of the OP: - Kreis St. Wendel (excluding Stadt St. Wendel) Kreis Merzig-Wadern (eastern part of former Kreis Wadern excluding Stadt Wadern) Aims of programme and implementation plan Urgent need for action relates to the following problems: - loss of mainly young, skilled labour as a result of departure from the area, leading to skilled-based obstacles to the labour market; - shortage of institutions providing skills which would encourage the use of local resources; - shortage of attractive, environmentally friendly tourist facilities; - equipment of area - infrastructures; - agricultural areas which are disadvantaged for natura ...[+++]l (Article 3 of Directive 75/268/EEC) and structural (division of land on an inheritance basis) reasons; - above average fall in numbers of agricultural jobs as a result of structural adjustment; - high capital burdens on agricultural holdings and consequent high level of vulnerability; - increase in the amount of fallow land contrasting with efforts to preserve cultivated land and by extension with tourism measures.

For these areas, spraying herbicides is the only available option to maintain a cleared target zone.