CYPRUS has received a warning letter from the European Commission over its failure to designate sufficient protected areas in the Akamas peninsula, which the EU considers a violation of its directives, it emerged yesterday.
In a lengthy letter to Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou dated May 19, the Commission suggested that Cyprus had used socioeconomic criteria in designating areas in the Akamas instead of scientific standards as it ought to.
The Commission lists a series of habitats and species that were left out when Cyprus designated the protected areas in the Akamas.
Its letter, which constitutes formal notice – the first step in a procedure that could see Cyprus end up in court – was made public by news portal Stockwatch.
Cyprus will now be required to provide scientific justification to explain the discrepancies, and has two months to reply.
Depending on the reply, or absence thereof, the Commission could decide to send a Reasoned Opinion – final written warning.
In the Reasoned Opinion, the Commission will lay out its arguments in detail on why it considers there to be an infringement of EU law and urge the member-state to comply within a specified period, usually two months.
If it fails anew, the Commission may bring the case before the European Court of Justice, which in turn will decide if there had been an infringement and what measures should be taken to conform.
In the letter, the Commission said Cypriot authorities themselves seem to suggest that “possibly, socioeconomic reasons led to decisions to designate specific areas (with smaller limits, covering fewer habitats than what they should have based on the scientific data).”
“In addition, it also seems that the excluded areas mainly include private properties,” the Commission said.
Conservationists have always argued that the boundaries of the Akamas fell well short and that the government had ignored scientific criteria in favour of socio-economic interests.
They saw the plan as a poor compromise to appease landowners and local residents, who have long argued that it is unfair not to allow them to develop what has become prime real estate.
Hailed as an environmental jewel, the once pristine Akamas peninsula has been gradually destroyed, mainly through development with the tolerance of the authorities.
