United Nations Convention to combat desertification

OBJECTIVE: to approve, on behalf of the Community, the United Nations Convention of 1994 to combat desertification. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Decision 98/216/EC on the conclusion, on behalf of the Community, of the United Nations Convention to combat desertification in countries seriously affected by drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa. SUBSTANCE: The convention signed by the parties on 14.10.1994 has the aim of combating desertification and alleviating the impact of drought in countries seriously affected by this problem, particularly in Africa, by means of effective measures at all levels. These measures are to be based on arrangements for international cooperation and partnership, within the framework of an integrated approach compatible with the United Nations' Action 21 programme. It relates, in particular, to the attainment of sustainable develoment in the regions concerned and requiring parties, within the limits of their respective competences, to adopt preventive and aid measures to combat drought in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean and the northern Mediterranean. The Decision extends the Convention to the Community. The Convention comprises fields of application for which the Community is at least partially competent, namely: -environmental protection and other Community measures in the field of science policy (combating erosion and desertification), -development cooperation in Africa, under the Lomé Convention, in Latin America, Asia and the Mediterranean, -other specific development cooperation instruments. The Community will take action in these fields in accordance with the aims of the Convention. ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Decision enters into force on 19.03.1998.�