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Section 7ReferencesEuropean Commission environmentwebsite(www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment)European Environment Agency (EEA)(www.eea.eu.int)EU Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans(www.reports.eea.eu.int)EU Clearing House mechanism(www.biodiversity-chm.eea.eu.int)EU Sixth Environmental Action Plan,‘Environment 2010, Our Future Our Choice’(www.reports.eea.eu.int)Europe’s Environment(www.reports.eea.eu.int)1995 The Dobris Assessment1998 The Second Assessment2003 The Third AssessmentIPAs and the EU Biodiversity StrategyContextThe three European Environment assessments have highlighted the urgent need forconcerted regional action to prevent the ongoing decline in biodiversity. In 1998 the EU,as a signatory to the CBD, formulated its first Biodiversity Strategy.The implementationof the strategy has been outlined in a series of Environmental Action Plans.The latest ofthese, the Sixth Environmental Action Plan,‘Environment 2010, Our Future, Our Choice’,seeks to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010 and sets out five priority areas: ClimateChange; Nature and Biodiversity; Environment; Health and Quality of Life; and NaturalResources and Waste.The strategy and action plans recognise the cross-sectoral nature of biodiversityconservation but there are also specific legal tools and strategies, such as the Natura2000 network (Birds and Habitats Directives), the Water Framework Directive, andfinancial tools such as LIFE Nature and Rural Development Programmes.The IPA project can make a significant contribution to the EU Biodiversity Strategy byengaging a range of stakeholders, and providing sound data on priority sites forconservation action and protection.BRANO MOLNARAquilegia alpina in Slovakia92