Towards co-operation across mountain frontiers: The Alpine Convention

✍ Scribed by Price, Martin F.

• Book ID: 101281559
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 140 KB
• Volume: 9
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0961-0405
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-0976(199905/06)9:3<83::aid-eet188>3.0.co;2-j

✦ Synopsis

The issue of trans-frontier co-operation in Europe is attracting wide interest. In mountain regions, trans-frontier co-operation in the management of environmental resources is particularly important. The Alpine Convention is an important example of such co-operation. Following decades of discussion, it was negotiated and finally signed by most Alpine states in 1991. Most Alpine states have now ratified it. As a framework convention, its full implementation will depend on its protocols. Many have been prepared and signed, but none ratified. This paper discusses the objectives, structure and functions of the convention and then discusses its implementation, particularly with regard to the difficulties of ratification, setting up a secretariat and preparing and harmonizing protocols. While the convention has contributed to the recognition of the Alps as a region, levels of co-operation remain low, and considerable work and political will are yet needed before the convention achieves its objectives.