EU to preserve unique habitats, flora and fauna in the Balkans

TIRANA, Oct. 26 – The European Commission has proposed that the EU ratify an agreement to protect the sustainable development of the Prespa Park area in south-east Europe, the commission said on its website Tuesday.
Prespa is the name of two freshwater lakes in the Balkan Peninsula, shared by Greece, Albania, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia _ 190 sq km belonging to Macedonia, 84.8 sq km to Greece and 38.8 sq km to Albania.
They are the highest tectonic lakes in the Balkans, standing at an altitude of 853 m.
The agreement for the joint protection was negotiated by the European Commission, Greece, Albania and Macedonia. The scheme is an important improvement to the existing local co-operation arrangements and should ease the successful implementation of the aims of the EU Water Framework Directive in the area.
The Prespa Park area, a trans-boundary region protected by Greece, Albania and Macedonia, is the first example of a trans-boundary protected area in south-east Europe.
“I am delighted by the successful conclusion of the Prespa Agreement and I trust the Council and Parliament will quickly agree to its ratification, thereby making the entry into force possible. The Prespa Lakes basin is a globally significant ecological and cultural landscape with unique habitats, flora and fauna,” Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said in the media statement.
“Enhanced cooperation through international agreements such as this one supports Member States in their efforts to fully and effectively implement EU water legislation and contributes to a common understanding and shared priorities with third countries in line with our neighborhood and enlargement policies,” he added.