Promoting biodiversity in the European Community
In the publication entitled "Promoting biodiversity in the European Community: the ACE-Biotopes programme 1984-1991", the Commission presents an analysis of the EU's financial contribution towards the promotion of nature conservation in the Member States. The report assesses the specific projects funded under the ACE-Biotopes programme from 1984-1991 and evaluates the extent of the programme's contribution to the implementation of Community policy in this area. Since the adoption of its first environmental action programme in 1973, the EU has been very active in the conservation of Europe's natural heritage. The EU has already adopted close to 20 legal instruments which have been supported by the financial instrument known as ACE (actions by the Community for the environment). Just over 50% of the funds available through ACE were allocated to the protection of biotopes. In total over ECU 30 million was allocated to 92 biotope projects during the seven-year period.