The Role of the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe after 2004 Conclusions

 

6. Conclusions Despite the approaching end of political and economic transition in Central and Eastern Europe, the demand for environmental cooperation at local, national, EU and international levels continues to grow. Through 12 years of existence, the REC has proven to be a viable, independent organisation providing services to governments, local authorities, NGOs and businesses. The transfer of experience and expertise, as well as the facilitation of stakeholder cooperation remain important tools for the progress towards sustainable development. In particular, the REC offers to evolve its key activity areas. For new CEE member states in the EU, the REC will: provide post-accession support to local and regional governments and to businesses for full implementation of the acquis communautaire;   promote good governance and public participation (assistance to civil society);   support initiatives to design and implement sustainable development;   work as a policy think-tank on specific issues; and   act as an information and resource centre for sustainable development with a mission to bridging regions in Europe. For candidate countries and SAA/SP [3] countries, the REC will: raise awareness about country-specific issues and solution alternatives;   promote experience exchange and cooperation among/between countries of Western, Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe;   facilitate stakeholder dialogue;   build capacity at all government levels and in the business community;   help transpose and implement the EU acquis communautaire; and   support grassroots NGO programmes. In the context of global processes and other regions, the REC will: become a focal point for information on experiences in sustainable development implementation worldwide;   support policy development in the Environment for Europe process;   promote the implementation of global, regional and subregional conventions;   facilitate, within the EECCA framework, the transfer of experience from CEE; and   disseminate the successes of transition from CEE to other regions. In the years following the accession of the first group of new CEE member states, the REC’s services will be needed in different but interconnected ways within the EU, in the remaining candidate countries, in South Eastern Europe and on the global level. To deliver these services successfully, the REC has to maintain the close cooperation that has been developed since 1990 with the CEE countries, the US and Japan, the Commission, other EU member states, international organisations, private foundations and other stakeholders. [1] Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the US and the EC (further donors include France, the Flemish government [Belgium], Sweden, New Zealand and the UK, as well as [2] Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, FYR Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey and Serbia and Montenegro. [3] Countries having stabilisation and association agreements, signatories of the Stability Pact.

Introduction Achievements Current trends Services Institutional development