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 190,959 km² or 73,730 sq mi encompassing 5867 municipalities (data from January 2008). 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 2007, the total population of this area was approaching 14 million inhabitants.

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 2013–2014 the presidency is held by Italy.

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.

All the Alpine Conferences:

Conference	Years	Presidency	Conference place
I. Alpine convention	1989	Germany	Berchtesgaden
II. Alpine convention	1989–1991	Austria	Salzburg
III. Alpine convention	1991–1994	France	Chambery
IV. Alpine convention	1995–1996	Slovenia	Bled
V. Alpine convention	1996–1998	Slovenia	Brdo
VI. Alpine convention	1999–2000	Switzerland	Luzern
VII. Alpine convention	2001–2002	Italy	Merano
VIII. Alpine convention	2003–2004	Germany	Garmisch-Partenkirchen
IX. Alpine convention	2005–2006	Austria	Alpbach
X. Alpine convention	2007–2008	France	Evian
XI. Alpine convention	2009–2011	Slovenia	Brdo pri Kranju
XII. Alpine convention	2011–2012	Switzerland	Poschiavo

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. 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.

Permanent Committee meets twice a year, last (50th) meeting was in September 2012 in Poschiavo, Switzerland.

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 Innsbruck, 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. Markus Reiterer.

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 2-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.

Ten 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"
• Working Group "Macro-regional strategy for the Alps"
• "Mountain Farming" Platform

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. Below is a brief overview about the signatures and the state of ratifications:

State	Signature	Ratification	Entry into force
Austria	1991	1994	1995
Switzerland	1991	1998	1999
Germany	1991	1994	1995
France	1991	1995	1996
Liechtenstein	1991	1994	1995
Italy	1991	1999	2000
Monaco	1994	1998	1999
Slovenia	1993	1995	1995
EU	1991	1996	1998

To date, Alpine states have signed all the protocols, except Monaco that didn't sign the protocol 'Energy' and the European Union that didn’t 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). 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 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
• Alpine Signals 6
• Report on the State of the Alps #1. Transport and Mobility, 2007
• Report on the State of the Alps #2. Water and water management issues, 2009
• Report on the State of the Alps #3. Sustainable rural development and innovation, 2011
• 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
• Establishing an Alpine Ecological Network, 2007
• Alpine Signals FOCUS 1
• Implementation manuals of the Alpine Convention and best practice
• Environmental Protection and Mountains

Future and evolution of the Alpine Convention

The European Commission 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

• 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

External links

• Alpine Convention
• CIPRA-International