This changing context requires continuous change on the part of the REC. In June, a new Charter for the REC was signed by 22 Central and Eastern European and Western countries. The signing followed the REC's change of status to that of an international organization which was granted by the Hungarian government along with a donation of a new site for the organization. These events truly marked the beginning of a new phase in the development of the REC under the leadership of my predecessor Stanislaw Sitnicki who served as the executive director of REC from 1993 until July 1996.
The change at the helm of the organization provided an opportunity to carry the initiative further and to implement changes inside the organization that were needed to live up to its new status and mandates of the Charter. A new strategy was introduced to enable the REC to develop a niche beyond its traditional support to nongovernmental organizations. The expanded role for the Center will include support for all the stakeholders in the CEE countries as they prepare to accede to the European Union by approximation of legislation, information systems and environmental management systems in the business sector.
While this strategy represents a change in emphasis, the REC has always been committed to forging alliances and encouraging cooperation among the region's environmental stakeholders. Businesses, academia, and NGOs as well as local governments and the media, are all responsible in some way for influencing the future environmental agenda, and throughout 1996 the REC has worked to support them.
On the government side, the REC has supported the capacity of government administrators through its Senior Fellowship program and Government Contact Persons Network. The Center also conducted a study of Local Environmental Action Plans (LEAPs) in five CEE countries and partnered with the GLOBE network in a project to promote Open and Effective Parliaments in the region.
The Business Initiatives program continued to support the environmental business community through its information and research services, serving more than 50 commercial clients in 1996. In addition work was conducted to expand the REC's Environmental Business Directory and the Emerging Environmental Markets Survey to include Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Slovenia.
A comprehensive assessment of CEE environment NGOs confirmed the need for REC services to this community. The Center remains committed to the region's nongovernmental environment movement and in 1996 awarded more than 600 grants totaling nearly 900,000 USD for NGO projects. The survey also revealed the value of the REC's training, capacity building and information services to these stakeholders.
Finally, citizen involvement in environmental programs is increasingly recognized as a vital component for lasting solutions. The REC continued at the forefront of work on public participation in the region with initiatives such as public participation training modules and a research study on the international aspects of public participation.
During the past year, several on-the-ground changes were made at the REC including the introduction of a more efficient project management approach involving project committees to plan and evaluate programs and multidisciplinary project teams to carry out implementation. In addition a more streamlined senior management team was introduced along with a new financing system to recover both direct and indirect costs from project funding.
As you read about the Center's achievements and activities in the pages that follow I think you will find the REC a dynamic and valuable organization - prepared to adapt to changing conditions and to serve as a true catalyst in solving environmental problems throughout Central and Eastern Europe.
JERNEJ STRITIH
Executive Director
