ALPINE CONVENTION—MOUNTAIN FARMING
(8705/06)
Letter from Barry Gardiner MP, Minister
for Biodiversity, Landscape and Rural Affairs, Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to the Chairman
I am writing to update your Committee on the
Explanatory Memorandum recently submitted by my colleague, Lord
Rooker, on the Protocol on Mountain Farming attached to the Alpine
Convention.
The Explanatory Memorandum noted a number of
concerns with the Convention. We have received reassurances from
the Commission that has allayed our concerns. In particular, that
the Protocol will not be binding on the Community as a whole,
that it will not in any way constrain the future development of
EU policies (and in particular, will not hinder future reform
of the Common Agricultural Policy), and will not have any implications
on EU expenditure.
In light of these reassurances, we are therefore
now proposing to support the Convention.
I appreciate that a letter updating the Explanatory
Memorandum is not standard practice, and apologise for any confusion
that may have been caused to the Committee, which has been as
a result of a clerical error.
23 May 2006
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