Alpine Convention

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.

Logo of the Alpine Convention

Geographic area of the Alpine Convention
Alpine arc

The geographic area of the Alpine Convention covers a 190,717 km2 or 73,636 sq mi encompassing 5867 municipalities (data from 2013). The Alpine Range as defined by the Alpine Convention stretches across 1,200 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 2013, the total population of this area was approaching 15 million inhabitants.[1]

The Institutions of the Alpine Convention

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. For the period 2016–2018 the presidency is held by Austria.

The conference also welcomes the following observers: European association of elected representatives from mountain regions, Alpe Adria, Arge Alp, International Commission for the Protection of the Alps (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.

All the Alpine Conferences:

ConferenceYearsPresidencyConference place
I. Alpine convention1989GermanyBerchtesgaden
II. Alpine convention1989–1991AustriaSalzburg
III. Alpine convention1991–1994FranceChambery
IV. Alpine convention1995–1996SloveniaBled
V. Alpine convention1996–1998SloveniaBrdo
VI. Alpine convention1999–2000SwitzerlandLuzern
VII. Alpine convention2001–2002ItalyMerano
VIII. Alpine convention2003–2004GermanyGarmisch-Partenkirchen
IX. Alpine convention2005–2006AustriaAlpbach
X. Alpine convention2007–2008FranceÉvian-les-Bains
XI. Alpine convention2009–2011SloveniaBrdo
XII. Alpine convention2011–2012SwitzerlandPoschiavo
XIII. Alpine convention2013–2014ItalyTurin
XIV. Alpine convention2015–2016GermanyGrassau

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. The permanent committee analyses the information submitted by the member states in implementing the convention and reports to the Alpine Conference; prepares programmes for meetings of the Alpine Conference and proposes the agenda; sets up working groups that have to formulate Protocols and recommendations and it coordinates their activities; examines and harmonizes the contents of draft Protocols and makes proposals to the Alpine Conference.

The permanent committee meets twice a year.

The Compliance Committee

The compliance committee is the body that oversees implementation of the commitments and obligations taken under the Alpine Convention. Every 10 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).[2]

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 Innsbruck, Austria, and a branch office in Bolzano-Bozen, Italy. 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 Alenka Smerkolj.

The permanent secretariat carries out different projects and activities for promotion of the Alpine Convention.

Working groups and platforms

The permanent committee can establish Working Groups, with a two-year mandate, on topics it considers relevant to support the sustainable development within the Alps. The main responsibility of the working groups and platforms is the development of new protocols, recommendations and implementation measures, studies of ongoing developments and reports on the progress to the Alpine Conference and permanent committee.

Nine working groups and platforms are currently active:

  • Working Group Transport[3]
  • Natural Hazards Platform[4]
  • Ecological Network Platform[5]
  • Water Management Platform in the Alpine space[6]
  • Large Carnivores and Wild Ungulates and Society Platform – WISO[7]
  • Working Group "Macro-regional strategy for the Alps"[8]
  • "Mountain Farming" Platform[9]
  • "Mountain Forest" Working group[10]
  • "Sustainable tourism" Working group[11]

Working groups active in the past were:

  • Working Group UNESCO World Heritage[12]
  • Expert Group -Report from the State of the Alps-[13]
  • Working Group "Demography and Employment"[14]

Signatures and ratifications of the Framework Convention and its Protocols

The first meeting of interested countries took place in Berchtesgaden in December 1989. On 7 the Framework Convention was signed by Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Slovenia signed on 29 and Monaco on 20. Ratification occurred between 1994 and 1999.[15] Below is a brief overview about the signatures and the state of ratifications:[16]

StateSignatureRatificationEntry into force
Austria199119941995
Switzerland199119981999
Germany199119941995
France199119951996
Liechtenstein199119941995
Italy199119992000
Monaco199419981999
Slovenia199319951995
EU199119961998

To date, Alpine states have signed all the protocols, except Monaco that did not sign the protocol 'Energy' and the European Union that did not sign the protocols 'Mountain Forests' and 'Settlement of disputes'. Regarding protocol ratification, Switzerland has not ratified any protocols yet.

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).[17] Of these areas, eight are now protocols annexed to the Framework Convention:[18]

  • Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development;[19]
  • Mountain Farming;[20]
  • Conservation of Nature and Landscape Protection;[21]
  • Mountain Forests;[22]
  • Tourism;[23]
  • Soil Conservation;[24]
  • Energy;[25]
  • Transports.[26]

Two new protocols, not related to a specific thematic area, have since been adopted:

  • Settlement of disputes;[27]
  • Adherence of the Principality of Monaco to the Alpine Convention.[28]

The Alpine Convention includes two Declarations that could not be turned into Protocols:

  • Declaration on Population and Culture;[29]
  • Declaration on Climate Change.[30]

Publications of the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention

Main source:[31]

  • Alpine Signals 1. The Alpine Convention- Reference guide, 2010, second edition, available in English, 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[32]
  • Alpine Signals 6
  • Report on the State of the Alps #1. Transport and Mobility, 2007[33]
  • Report on the State of the Alps #2. Water and water management issues, 2009[34]
  • Report on the State of the Alps #3. Sustainable rural development and innovation, 2011
  • Report on the State of the Alps #4. Sustainable tourism in the Alps, 2013
  • Report on the State of the Alps #5. Demographic changes in the Alps, 2015
  • Report on the State of the Alps #6. Greening the economy in the Alpine region, 2017
  • Towards Renewable Alps Archived 11 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Towards Renewable Alps, 2017
  • Multi-Annual Work Programme of the Alpine Conference 2017–2022. Multi-Annual Work Programme of the Alpine Conference 2017–2022, 2017
  • The Alps-Eight countries, a single territory, 2009; second edition, 2016[35]
  • 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[36]
  • Establishing an Alpine Ecological Network, 2007[37]
  • Alpine Signals FOCUS 1
  • Implementation manuals of the Alpine Convention and best practice
  • Environmental Protection and Mountains

See also

References
  1. Alpski signali 1 Archived 12 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine Alpine convention webpage, 02/10/2012.
  2. en.htm Presentation of the Steering Committee from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 16 January 2011.
  3. Working Group Transport Archived 20 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 2 October 2012
  4. Natural Hazards Platform Archived 20 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 2 October 2012
  5. Ecological Network Platform Archived 20 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 2 October 2012
  6. Water management Platform in the Alpine Space Archived 20 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 12 October 2012
  7. Large Carnivores and Wild Ungulates Platform Archived 20 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 2 October 2012
  8. Working Group "Macro-regional strategy for the Alps" Archived 20 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 1 October 2012
  9. "Mountain Farming" Platform Archived 20 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 1 October 2012
  10. "Mountain Forest" Working group from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 1 October 2012
  11. "Sustainable tourism" Working group from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 1 October 2012
  12. Working Group UNESCO World Heritage Archived 20 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 2 October 2012
  13. Expert Group -Report from the State of the Alps- Archived 20 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 2 October 2012
  14. Working Group "Demography and Employment" Archived 20 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 2 October 2012
  15. State of Ratification Archived 13 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 16 January 2011
  16. State of Ratifications Archived 28 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 2 October 2011
  17. Article 2 of the Framework Convention Archived 28 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 1 October 2012
  18. List and integral texts of the Framework Convention Protocols Archived 28 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 2 October 2012
  19. Protocol Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 2 October 2012
  20. Protocol Mountain Farming from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 2 October 2012
  21. Protocol Conservation of Nature and Landscape Protection from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 2 October 2012
  22. Protocol Mountain Forests from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 2 October 2012
  23. Protocol Tourism from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 2 October 2012
  24. Protocol Soil Conservation from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 2 October 2012
  25. Protocol Energy from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 2 October 2012
  26. Protocol Transport from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 2 October 2012
  27. Protocol Solution of litigations from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 2 October 2012
  28. Protocol Adherence of the Principality of Monaco to the Alpine Convention from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 2 October 2012
  29. Declaration on Population and Culture from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 2 October 2012
  30. Declaration on Climate Change from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 2 October 2012
  31. "Publications & Multimedia". Alpconv. Archived from the original on 9 August 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  32. Publications & Multimedia from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 14 September 2023
  33. Report on the State of the Alps #1 Archived 17 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 16 January 2011
  34. Report on the State of the Alps #2 Archived 17 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 16 January 2011
  35. The Alps-Eight countries, a single territory Archived 20 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 16 January 2011
  36. THE ALPS. People and pressures in the mountains Archived 9 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 16 January 2011
  37. Establishing an Alpine Ecological Network Archived 8 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine from the Alpine Convention website, consulted on 16 January 2011
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