Sustainable Tourism Law

SUSTAINABILITY: THE PATH FROM STOCKHOLM TO THE EUROPEAN CHARTER 623 I.1.4. Johannesburg Conference The process initiated in Stockholm created many paths, which led to the September 2002 gathering in Johannesburg. Sustainable development became a part of the agenda once again. In Rio, the leaders were supportive of the goals and decisions were taken during the Conference. In Johannesburg, the most significant aspect was trying to overcome the gapbetween a political compromise and its practical implementation, due to the vast globalization challenges and the impact of September 11. Solidarity between rich and emerging countries became a subject of debate. The improvement of bilateral trade, the access to the markets, the elimination of counter-productive subsidies, debt reduction and increasing public aid are some of the main items on the global sustainable development agenda. The Conference identified the need of consolidating the progress in these fields, based on other relevant processes, such as the ones in Doha andMonterrey. The acceptance by most UN members that a sustainable development is based on a balance between economic, social and environmental aspects is one of the most significant advances of the last fifty years, leading the way to an integrated planning and making it possible to provide a better basis for political decisions at all levels. The Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development highlights the inclusive character of the process, which must involve governments and the most critical groups in our civil society. I.2.1. European Union. Sustainability on the Treaties Article 2 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (consolidated version of 2002) points to the sustainable development of economic activities as one of the tasks of the European Community: “The Community shall have as its task, by establishing a common market and an economic and monetary union and by implementing the common policies or activities referred to in Articles 3 and 3a to promote throughout the Community a harmonious and balanced development of economic activities, sustainable and non-inflationary growth respecting the environment, a high degree of convergence of economic performance, a high level of employment and of social protection, the raising of the standard of living and quality of life, and economic and social cohesion and solidarity among Member States”. In accordance with point u) of article 3, the Community must take measures in tourism to reach the principles included in article 2 of the Treaty.