Sustainable Tourism Law

624 SUSTAINABLE TOURISM LAW The European Union Treaty 10 also mentions sustainable development. According to article 2) the aim is “to promote throughout the Community a harmonious and balanced development of economic activities, sustainable and non- -inflationary growth respecting the environment ” 11 . This reference to sustainability was improved in the Amsterdam Treaty and kept in the Treaty of Nice. Article 2 of the AmsterdamTreaty establishes that the Community has the following mission “ a harmonious, balanced and sustainable development of economic activities, a high level of employment and of social protection, equality between men and women, sustainable and non-inflationary growth, a high degree of competitiveness and convergence of economic performance, a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment, the raising of the standard of living and quality of life, and economic and social cohesion and solidarity among Member States”. We find a similar formulation in the European Constitution project and in the Treaty of Lisbon. According to number 3 of article 2 of the Treaty of Lisbon, besides establishing an internal market and fostering scientific and technological progress, the Union “ shall work for the sustainable development of Europe based on balanced economic growth and price stability, a highly competitive social market economy, aiming at full employment and social progress, and a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment ”. I.2.2 The fifth Action Programme for the Environment and Sustainable Development (1993-2000), the answer of the Community to the Earth Summit The programme includes a new community strategy and the corresponding actions to undertake during its valid period, reflecting the participation of the Community in the Rio Conference, where all the documents were supported, including the Agenda 21 12 . The aim of the programme was the transformation of the Community growth model in harmony with sustainability patterns and the need for economic activities to consider environmental goals. For this purpose, it was necessary to 10 Also known as the Treaty of Maastricht, the oldest Dutch city, where it was signed in 7th February 1992. 11 Mentioning in an indirect way the interaction between the economic, social and environmental pillars, the article refers “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”. 12 The Community action programmes date back to the Summit of Heads of State and European Governments, when the first explicit mentions of the need to pay particular attention to the surrounding environment emerged.