Environmental problems do not respect political borders. Global warming, acid rain, poisoned rivers, they all affect every citizen of every country, both in Europe and around the globe. For that reason the development of environmental solutions must be an international effort that brings people from many different countries and backgrounds together to form a united voice speaking out for change.

The Sofia "Environment for Europe" Ministerial Conference was another positive step in this long and difficult process, and for that it should be praised. It allowed representatives from national governments, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations and businesses to come together in one place, at one time to develop acceptable answers to some very complex environmental questions. Participants looked at Europe not only as a place with many similar environmental problems, but also as a single continent with many common hopes and methods of solving them.

In the long run, it is the entire "Environment for Europe" process and not individual conferences that will have the greatest impact on global and European environmental issues. Financial resources and attention are channeled toward specific priority areas, both at the "official" conferences and the parallel NGO events, allowing NGO representatives and government officials to interact and form the healthy alliances that have so long been absent.

What is most unique about the "Environment for Europe" process is the increased emphasis it places on intersectoral cooperation and public participation, providing a forum for NGOs to participate in the environmental decisionmaking process, to compare their achievements and their visions, and for smaller NGOs to learn from their older, more experienced counterparts.

These issues have been at the top of the Regional Environmental Center's priority list for years, and it was encouraging to see the Center and it's activities included as part of the official Ministerial Declaration adopted at Sofia.

From our involvement in the lengthy preparatory process to our active participation in both the official and NGO conferences, I am proud the Regional Environmental Center was able to support such a truly international effort to clean up the environment on a global scale. But the process does not end in Sofia. The next conference will be held in Copenhagen in 1998, and the early indicators suggest that public participation and intersectoral cooperation, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, will continue to play an important part. With activities that focus on developing ties between stakeholders and addressing regional issues, I am confident that the Regional Environmental Center will rise to the challenge and continue to play an integral role in the "Environmental for Europe" process.

DR. BEDRICH MOLDAN,
Chair of the Board of Directors