Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats 2

Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats

 

Article 12

The Contracting Parties may adopt stricter measures for the conservation
of wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats than those provided
under this Convention.

Chapter VI. Standing Committee

Article 13

1. For the purposes of this Convention, a Standing Committee shall be set
up.

2. Any Contracting Party may be represented on the Standing Committee by
one or more delegates. Each delegation shall have one vote. Within the
areas of its competence, the European Economic Community shall exercise
its right to vote with a number of votes equal to the number of its
member States which are Contracting Parties to this Convention; the
European Economic Community shall not exercise its right to vote in cases
where the member States concerned exercise theirs, and conversely.

3. Any member State of the Council of Europe which is not a Contracting
Party to the Convention may be represented on the Committee as an
observer.

The Standing Committee may, by unanimous decision, invite any non-member
State of the Council of Europe which is not a Contracting Party to the
Convention to be represented by an observer at one of its meetings.

Any body or agency technically qualified in the protection, conservation
or management of wild fauna and flora and their habitats, and belonging
to one of the following categories:

a) International agencies or bodies, either governmental or
non-governmental, and national governmental agencies or bodies;

b) National non-governmental agencies or bodies which have been
approved for this purpose by the State in which they are located,

may inform the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, at least three
months before the meeting of the Committee, of its wish to be represented
at that meeting by observers. They shall be admitted unless, at least one
month before the meeting, one-third of the Contracting Parties have
informed the Secretary General of their objection.

4. The Standing Committee shall be convened by the Secretary General of
the Council of Europe. Its first meeting shall be held within one year of
the date of the entry into force of the Convention. It shall subsequently
meet at least every two years and whenever a majority of the Contracting
Parties so request.

5. A majority of the Contracting Parties shall constitute a quorum for
holding a meeting of the Standing Committee.

6. Subject to the provisions of the Convention, the Standing Committee
shall draw up its own Rules of Procedure.

Article 14

1. The Standing Committee shall be responsible for following the
application of this Convention. It may in particular:

— Keep under review the provisions of this Convention, including its
Appendices, and examine any modifications necessary;

— Make recommendations to the Contracting Parties concerning measures
to be taken for the purposes of this Convention;

— Recommend the appropriate measures to keep the public informed
about the activities undertaken within the framework of this
Convention;

— Make recommendations to the Committee of Ministers concerning
non-member States of the Council of Europe to be invited to accede
to this Convention;

— Make any proposal for improving the effectiveness of this
Convention, including proposals for the conclusion, with the States
which are not Contracting Parties to the Convention, of agreements
that would enhance the effective conservation of species or groups
of species.

2. In order to discharge its functions, the Standing Committee may, on
its own initiative, arrange for meetings of groups of experts.

Article 15

After each meeting, the Standing Committee shall forward to the Committee
of Ministers of the Council of Europe a report on its work and on the
functioning of the Convention.

Chapter VII. Amendments

Article 16

1. Any amendment to the articles of this Convention proposed by a
Contracting Party or the Committee of Ministers shall be communicated to
the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and forwarded by him at
least two months before the meeting of the Standing Committee to the
member States of the Council of Europe, to any signatory, to any
Contracting Party, to any State invited to sign this Convention in
accordance with the provisions of Article 19 and to any State invited to
accede to it in accordance with the provisions of Article 20.

2. Any amendment proposed in accordance with the provisions of the
preceding paragraph shall be examined by the Standing Committee which:

a) For amendments to Articles 1 to 12, shall submit the text adopted
by a three-quarters majority of the votes cast of the Contracting
Parties for acceptance;

b) For amendments to Articles 13 to 24, shall submit the text adopted
by a three-quarters majority of the votes cast to the Committee of
Ministers for approval. After its approval, this text shall be
forwarded to the Contracting Parties for acceptance.

3. Any amendment shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after all
the Contracting Parties have informed the Secretary General that they
have accepted it.

4. The provisions of paragraphs 1, 2.a and 3 of this Article shall apply
to the adoption of new Appendices to this Convention.

Article 17

1. Any amendment to the Appendices of this Convention proposed by a
Contracting Party or the Committee of Ministers shall be communicated to
the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and forwarded by him at
least two months before the meeting of the Standing Committee to the
member States of the Council of Europe, to any signatory, to any
Contracting Party, to any State invited to sign this Convention in
accordance with the provisions of Article 19 and to any State invited to
accede to it in accordance with the provisions of Article 20.

2. Any amendment proposed in accordance with the provisions of the
preceding paragraph shall be examined by the Standing Committee, which
may adopt it by a two-thirds majority of the Contracting Parties. The
text adopted shall be forwarded to the Contracting Parties.

3. Three months after its adoption by the Standing Committee and unless
one-third of the Contracting Parties have notified objections, any
amendment shall enter into force for those Contracting Parties which have
not notified objections.

 

Conclusion

Notes

See Also

References and Further Reading

About the Author/s and Reviewer/s

Author: international

Mentioned in these Entries

Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats.


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