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| The Role of the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe after 2004 Current Trends |
| 3. Developments in the region
There is a high probability that ten countries (eight of them from CEE) will join the European Union in 2004. This development will trigger a significant change in the environmental sector in these countries, as well as in their international roles. The worst environmental problems from the past have been eliminated and the new issues are increasingly similar to those found in the EU. A major challenge for new member states will be to implement the acquis fully according to their commitments during the negotiations. The largest burden will fall on local and regional authorities, which will have to build the environmental infrastructure required and implement the relevant legislation. For the countries, the challenge will be to break out of their current roles as followers and become active contributors to the development of EU environmental policy and to international cooperation. The remaining candidate countries will continue with the reforms that they are undertaking at the moment, i.e. capacity-building at government level, legal transposition and negotiations. In these countries the needs — in terms of the physical clean-up and the development of government institutions, NGOs and environmental service providers — are still considerable (especially in Turkey). In this process they will benefit from the exchange of experience with the first group. The countries of South Eastern Europe (SEE) are also on the path to harmonisation with the EU through the negotiation and implementation of stabilisation and association agreements with the Union. The countries affected by recent wars and instability have further to go, as institutional development, legal reform and capacity-building in the environmental sector represent a significant contribution to building democracy and securing stability. These countries can also benefit greatly from the exchange of experience with new member states from CEE. To the east of the current geographic remit of the REC, sister organisations (so-called “new RECs”) have been set up in Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, the Caucasus and Central Asia. The transition period is advancing in this region, but major environmental improvements remain to be seen, and the lack of progress may raise questions about the shape of future donor assistance to these countries. At the Kiev ministerial conference in 2003, a new environmental strategy for the East Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) will be discussed and will mainly depend on the commitment of the countries themselves. Environmental cooperation with the EECCA will remain a tool for building a long-term relationship with these countries, for achieving global environmental objectives in fields such as climate change and biodiversity, as well as for maintaining security. |
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