Alpine Convention
Encyclopedia
The Alpine Convention is an international territorial treaty for the sustainable development of the Alps. The objective of the treaty is to protect the natural environment of the Alps while promoting its development. This Framework Convention involves the European Union
and eight States
(Austria
, Germany
, France
, Italy
, Liechtenstein
, Monaco
, Slovenia
and Switzerland
). Opened to signature in 1991 and consisting of a Framework Convention, various implementation protocols and declarations, it entered into force in 1995, contributing to reinforce the recognition of special qualities and specific characteristics of the Alps, going beyond national boundaries and seeking international action.
The entire territories of Monaco and Liechtenstein are included. Austria and Italy together represent more than 55% of the Convention area. With France, these three states cover the three-quarter of the total surface of the Alpine Convention territory.
In 2007, the total population of this area was approaching 14 million inhabitants.
, in March 2011.
, Austria
, and a branch office in Bolzano-Bozen
, Italy
. It also includes a Task Force dedicated to the protected natural areas, located in Chambéry
, France
. The role of this permanent secretariat is to support all the other bodies instituted by the Alpine Convention by providing professional, logistic and administrative support, and by helping the Contracting parties, especially in implementing projects. The Secretariat is headed by a Secretary General, currently M. Marco Onida, with a deputy, currently Mrs. Regula Imhof .
in December 1989. On the Framework Convention was signed by Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Slovenia signed on and Monaco on . Ratification occurred between 1994 and 1999.
Below is a brief overview about the signatures and the state of ratifications :
To date, all Alpine states have signed all the protocols, except Monaco that didn't sign the Energy protocol. The European Union has not signed the protocols ‘Mountain Forests’ and ‘Settlement of disputes’. Regarding protocol ratification, Italy and Switzerland have not ratified any protocols. As Italy is a member of the European Union, the European law order nevertheless prevails (the EU has so far ratified ‘’Mountain farming’, ‘Tourism’, ‘Soil Conservation’ and Energy’).
Two new protocols, not related to a specific thematic area, have since been adopted:
The Alpine Convention includes two Declarations that could not been turned into Protocols:
wants to define geographical areas that overcome national boundaries. Its main aim is to better adapt and distribute economic development aid to the targeted regions. This new policy gives a strong stimulus to debate and exchanges of views on the creation of an Alpine Strategy, following the example of the Baltic Initiative or the European Strategy for the Danube Region.
In this context, the geographical area to be chosen constitutes a central element in defining such an Alpine region. Two different conceptions exist: the first, chosen by the Alpine Convention, limits the Alps to territory of a mountainous character; the second, chosen by the Alpine Space Programme extends the concept to non-Alpine regions and to bigger urban flatland areas around the Alps .
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and eight States
Sovereign state
A sovereign state, or simply, state, is a state with a defined territory on which it exercises internal and external sovereignty, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other sovereign states. It is also normally understood to be a state which is neither...
(Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
, Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
). Opened to signature in 1991 and consisting of a Framework Convention, various implementation protocols and declarations, it entered into force in 1995, contributing to reinforce the recognition of special qualities and specific characteristics of the Alps, going beyond national boundaries and seeking international action.
Geographic Area of the Alpine Convention
The geographic area of the Alpine Convention covers a 190959 km² or 73,730 sq mi encompassing 5867 municipalities (data from January 2008). The Alpine Range as defined by the Alpine Convention stretches across 1200 km or 746 mi, through eight states, and its maximum width is 300 km or 186 mi, between Bavaria and Northern Italy.The entire territories of Monaco and Liechtenstein are included. Austria and Italy together represent more than 55% of the Convention area. With France, these three states cover the three-quarter of the total surface of the Alpine Convention territory.
In 2007, the total population of this area was approaching 14 million inhabitants.
The Alpine Conference
The Alpine Conference is the body that takes the most important decisions regarding the Convention. The Presidency of the Conference rotates between the Contracting parties, each holding the Presidency for a two-year period. The Conference also welcomes the following observers: European association of elected representatives from mountain regions, Alpe Adria, Arge Alp, CIPRA International, Club Arc Alpin, COTRAO – The Working Community of the Western Alps, Euromontana, FIANET, the International Steering Committee of the Network of Protected areas, the IUCN, the Managing Authority of the European Cooperation Programme Alpine Space, Pro Mont Blanc, UNEP and ISCAR. The last Alpine Conference took place in Brdo pri Kranju, in SloveniaSlovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
, in March 2011.
- Alpine Conference: BerchtesgadenBerchtesgadenBerchtesgaden is a municipality in the German Bavarian Alps. It is located in the south district of Berchtesgadener Land in Bavaria, near the border with Austria, some 30 km south of Salzburg and 180 km southeast of Munich...
, Germany – 1989 - Alpine Conference: SalzburgSalzburg-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, Austria – 1991 - Alpine Conference: ChambéryChambéryChambéry is a city in the department of Savoie, located in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.It is the capital of the department and has been the historical capital of the Savoy region since the 13th century, when Amadeus V of Savoy made the city his seat of power.-Geography:Chambéry...
, France – 1994 - Alpine Conference: BrdoBrdoBrdo is a South Slavic toponym, meaning "hill". A common placename, it can refer to several locations in countries with South Slavic populations, primarily Serbia and Slovenia:-Serbia:*Brdo , village near Nova Varoš...
, Slovenia – 1996 - Alpine Conference: BledBledBled is a municipality in northwestern Slovenia in the region of Upper Carniola. The area, within the Julian Alps, is a popular tourist destination.-History:...
, Slovenia – 1998 - Alpine Conference: LucerneLucerneLucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
, Switzerland – 2000 - Alpine Conference: Merano/Meran, Italy – 2002
- Alpine Conference: Garmisch-PartenkirchenGarmisch-PartenkirchenGarmisch-Partenkirchen is a mountain resort town in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Oberbayern region, and the district is on the border with Austria...
, Germany – 2004 - Alpine Conference: AlpbachAlpbachAlpbach is a village in Western Austria in the state of Tyrol. Its geographical location is , at 975 m above sea level. Alpbach had a population of 2,549 in 2003....
, Austria – 2006 - Alpine Conference: EvianEvianEvian is a French brand of mineral water coming from several sources near Évian-les-Bains, on the south shore of Lake Geneva.Today, Evian is owned by Danone Group, a French multinational company...
, France – 2009 - Alpine Conference: Brdo pri KranjuBrdo pri KranjuBrdo near Kranj is an estate and a mansion in the Slovenian region of Upper Carniola in the municipality of Kranj north of Ljubljana. It is the Slovenian Government's main venue for diplomatic meetings and other Government-sponsored events....
, Slovenia – 2011
The Permanent Committee
The Permanent Committee is the executive body of the Alpine Conference. It is composed of all Member delegations and guarantees that the basis, the principles and the objectives of the Convention are implemented. It meets twice a year, the last meeting was in March 2011, just before the Alpine Conference of Brdo pri Kranju.The Compliance Committee
The Steering Committee is the body that oversees implementation of the commitments and obligations taken under the Alpine Convention. Each four years, Contracting Parties have to publish a report concerning the implementation of the Convention and its protocols. The first report was adopted at the Xth Alpine Conference (March 2009).The Permanent Secretariat
This treaty dedicated to a specific territory is supported by a Permanent Secretariat, created in 2003, that has its main office in InnsbruckInnsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, and a branch office in Bolzano-Bozen
Bozen
Bozen may refer to:*Bolzano, a bi-lingual northern Italian provincial capital city of which Bozen is the official German name*Bözen, a Swiss municipality*Bożeń, a village in Poland*Bozen Green, a village in Hertfordshire, England...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It also includes a Task Force dedicated to the protected natural areas, located in Chambéry
Chambéry
Chambéry is a city in the department of Savoie, located in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.It is the capital of the department and has been the historical capital of the Savoy region since the 13th century, when Amadeus V of Savoy made the city his seat of power.-Geography:Chambéry...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The role of this permanent secretariat is to support all the other bodies instituted by the Alpine Convention by providing professional, logistic and administrative support, and by helping the Contracting parties, especially in implementing projects. The Secretariat is headed by a Secretary General, currently M. Marco Onida, with a deputy, currently Mrs. Regula Imhof .
Working Groups and Platforms
The Permanent Committee can establish Working Groups on topics it considers relevant to support the sustainable development within the Alps. Eight Working Groups and Platforms are currently active:- Working Group Transport
- Working Group UNESCO World Heritage
- Natural Hazards Platform
- Ecological Network Platform
- Expert Group -Report from the State of the Alps-
- Water Management Platform in the Alpine space
- Large Carnivores and Wild Ungulates Platform
- Working Group "Demography and Employment"
Signatures and ratifications of the Framework Convention and its Protocols
The first meeting of interested countries took place in BerchtesgadenBerchtesgaden
Berchtesgaden is a municipality in the German Bavarian Alps. It is located in the south district of Berchtesgadener Land in Bavaria, near the border with Austria, some 30 km south of Salzburg and 180 km southeast of Munich...
in December 1989. On the Framework Convention was signed by Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Slovenia signed on and Monaco on . Ratification occurred between 1994 and 1999.
Below is a brief overview about the signatures and the state of ratifications :
- Austria: ratification on February 1994, entry into force on 6 March 1995
- Suisse: ratification on 16 December 1998, entry into force on 28 April 1999
- Germany: ratification on 29 September 1994, entry into force on 6 March 1995
- France: ratification on 30 November 1995, entry into force on 15 April 1996
- Liechtenstein: ratification on 21 March 1994, entry into force on 6 March 1995
- Italy: ratification on 14 October 1999, entry into force on 27 March 2000
- Monaco: ratification on 22 December 1998, entry into force on 22 March 1999
- Slovenia: ratification on 22 March 1995, entry into force on 22 August 1995
- European Community, since 1993 European Union: ratification on 26 February 1996, entry into force on 14 April 1998
To date, all Alpine states have signed all the protocols, except Monaco that didn't sign the Energy protocol. The European Union has not signed the protocols ‘Mountain Forests’ and ‘Settlement of disputes’. Regarding protocol ratification, Italy and Switzerland have not ratified any protocols. As Italy is a member of the European Union, the European law order nevertheless prevails (the EU has so far ratified ‘’Mountain farming’, ‘Tourism’, ‘Soil Conservation’ and Energy’).
Protocols and Declarations linked to the Framework Convention
Under the Convention, Member States should adopt specific measures in twelve thematic areas (Population and Culture, Spatial Planning, Air pollution, Soil Conservation, Water Management, Conservation of Nature and the Countryside, Mountain Farming, Mountain Forests, Tourism, Transport, Energy, and Waste Management). Of these areas, eight are now protocols annexed to the Framework Convention:- Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development;
- Mountain Farming ;
- Conservation of Nature and Landscape Protection;
- Mountain Forests;
- Tourism;
- Soil Conservation;
- Energy;
- Transports.
Two new protocols, not related to a specific thematic area, have since been adopted:
- Settlement of disputes;
- Adherence of the Principality of Monaco to the Alpine Convention.
The Alpine Convention includes two Declarations that could not been turned into Protocols:
- Declaration on Population and Culture ;
- Declaration on Climate Change .
Publications of the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention
- Alpine Signals 1. The Alpine Convention- Reference guide, 2010, second edition, available in German, French, Italian and Slovenian.
- Alpine Signals 2. The Alpine Convention is taking shape, 2004, available in German, French, Italian and Slovenian.
- Alpine Signals 3. Cross-border ecological network, 2004, available in German, French, Italian and Slovenian.
- Alpine Signals 4. Natural events documentation, 2006, available in German, French, Italian and Slovenian.
- Alpine Signals 5. Mitigation and adaptation to climate change in the Alpine Space, 2008
- Report on the State of the Alps #1. Transport and Mobility, 2007
- Establishing an Alpine Ecological Network, 2007
- Report on the State of the Alps #2. Water and water management issues, 2009
- The Alps-Eight countries, a single territory, 2009
- PER ALPES. Discovering the Alps in 20 circular walks, 2010
- THE ALPS. People and pressures in the mountains, the facts at a glance. Vademecum, 2010
Future and evolution of the Alpine Convention
The European CommissionEuropean Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
wants to define geographical areas that overcome national boundaries. Its main aim is to better adapt and distribute economic development aid to the targeted regions. This new policy gives a strong stimulus to debate and exchanges of views on the creation of an Alpine Strategy, following the example of the Baltic Initiative or the European Strategy for the Danube Region.
In this context, the geographical area to be chosen constitutes a central element in defining such an Alpine region. Two different conceptions exist: the first, chosen by the Alpine Convention, limits the Alps to territory of a mountainous character; the second, chosen by the Alpine Space Programme extends the concept to non-Alpine regions and to bigger urban flatland areas around the Alps .
See also
- The AlpsThe AlpsThe Alps is a 2007 American documentary film about the climbing of the north face of the Eiger in the Bernese Alps by John Harlin III, son of John Harlin who died on the same ascent 40 years earlier...
- List of national parks of the Alps
- Alpine Space Programme, an EU co-funded programme to enhance the competitiveness and attractiveness of the alpine region