A C H I E V E M E N T S
Special Programs
International Developments
General Assembly
The Regional Environmental Center's twenty-eight member General Assembly met for its second annual meeting in June 1994. The General Assembly strongly endorsed the conclusions and recommendations of the REC's survey Strategic Environmental Issues in Central and Eastern Europe, and recommended that the survey be widely distributed to decisionmakers throughout Europe.
Environment for Europe
The REC was invited to the main international environmental policymaking events in the Environment for Europe process. The REC contributed to the work of both the Public Participation Task Force of the UN Economic Commission for Europe, and participated in the meetings of the OECD Task Force for the Implementation of the Environmental Action Program for Central and Eastern Europe.
New Local Office
To ensure equal access to all REC programs and services for its constituents in Central and Eastern Europe, the REC has established a network of local offices and local representatives. In 1994, the seventh local office was officially opened in Tirana, Albania.
Fact-finding Missions
Direct, personal contact between REC project staff and constituents is essential for understanding their needs and for evaluating REC services to them. In 1994 REC staff conducted three fact-finding missions: Slovenia (March), Albania (April), and Croatia (October).
PARTICIPANTS
raise important issues during seminars introducing the
Environmental Action Program for Central and Eastern Europe. The REC helped organize seminars in ten countries.
Special Programs
Environmental Action Program for Central and Eastern Europe
The Regional Environmental Center, in close cooperation with the European Union and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, coordinated the translation and dissemination of the Environmental Action Program for Central and Eastern Europe (EAP) for thirteen countries in the Region. The REC also cooperated with the ministry of environment in each country of the Region to organize one-day seminars to explain the role of the EAP and to suggest ways of implementing its recommendations in each country. In all, about 700 people participated in seminars in ten countries.
JADRAN NIZITEO
of the "Our Beautiful Country" Society explains
pollution problems in Kastela Bay during a fact finding
mission to Croatia.
Japanese Special Fund
The Japanese Special Fund supports feasibility studies of marketable environmental projects and provides limited financial assistance for project implementation. In 1994 the Japanese Special Fund completed its study of the Sajo River Valley in northeastern Hungary. The study detected more than 800 illegal waste sites that could have harmful effects on surface and subsurface water in the region. Its comprehensive final report, which provides a map of key contaminants, will serve as a basis for developing a pollution-abatement strategy for the region. A similar project has begun in Poland.
REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER * ANNUAL REPORT 1994