June 19, 2000, Szentendre

Contents of this page Introduction Regional Environmental Center 6th Environmental Action Programme Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme for the South East Europe Danube River Basin cooperation Kyiv (Kiev) Ministerial Conference RIO + 10   Introduction 1. The Ministers of Environment and high level officials from Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, FYR Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, FR of Yugoslavia, and the representative of the European Commission, representatives of International Organisations, Non Governmental Organisations and the Business Sector met at the Regional Environmental Center in Szentendre, Hungary on June 19, 2000, for a Consultation on Environmental Policy-Making in the Central and Eastern Europe in the framework of the EAP Task Force and Environment for Europe Process. Without prejudice to the outcome of the discussions currently under way within the EU on the preparation of the 6th Environmental Action Programme of the EU, the present could agree with the following conclusions:   Regional Environmental Center 2. It is ten years since the establishment of the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC). We recognize the development of the REC into an independent body of an international character that has been successful in supporting the CEE region through various phases of transition towards democracy and free market. It provides a significant capacity to assist in solving environmental problems of the CEE region through cooperation among governments, NGOs and business, promotion of free access to information and public participation in environmental decision-making. REC's services include granting and other support to the environmental civil society, information exchange, policy research and development, facilitation of dialogue, capacity building, networking etc. We thank the founders of the REC: the United States, European Commission and Hungary for their initiative and continued support to the Center, and other donors, especially Japan, for their contributions supporting its valuable work. 3. In the future, we see REC as an organisation facilitating the improvement of the European environment, by providing input into pan-European, EU, regional (CEE, SEE), national, and sub-national environmental policies and facilitating their development and implementation. We encourage the REC to continue as an innovative model of providing a flexible set of key services to the environmental sector as a whole and the environmental stakeholders in particular. REC provides a significant capacity that will speed up the process of environmental integration of the CEE countries with the EU and will also benefit the EU from within. Within the framework of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, REC plays an important role in the implementation process of the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme for South Eastern European region. We call upon the signatories to the REC Charter to secure its long-term viability through appropriate financial support to its activities.   6th Environmental Action Programme 4. We believe that the EU Enlargement process actually presents an important opportunity to advance the environmental agenda on the continent through cooperation and dialogue among the countries and among stakeholders across the country borders. To achieve this, the current Acquis Communautaire serves as the baseline that all the candidate countries need to comply with within set time. But beyond the current Acquis much needs to be done to avoid the threats to environment that could increase through the enlargement process (e.g. from transport) and to fully appreciate the environmental assets and exploit opportunities for sustainable development (e.g. biodiversity and landscapes, industrial and energy restructuring). We believe that future EU legislation would benefit from involvement of candidate countries in the policy making process. 5. We welcome the initiative of the European Commission to make EU Enlargement an integral part of the 6th Environmental Action Programme (6th EAP) and to solicit input from the candidate countries in the drafting phase, incl. through the REC. As some of them may become EU members in the time of the 6th EAP, we believe that the candidate countries should also be able to make an input into the commenting and policy making process about the 6th EAP within the Union. 6. We believe that the 6th EAP and the Council integration strategies should in particular address the following objectives in relation to EU Enlargement: Efficient implementation of Acquis Communautaire, as well as consistent implementation of environmental policy and enforcement of environmental law. Creating general awareness about the benefits of EU environmental policies to citizens and economy through process of public participation and stakeholder involvement Building up the institutional capacity for environmental policy development and implementation at national and especially local level. Finding effective solutions to the problem of environmental liabilities from the past in the candidate countries, promoting recycling of existing industrial sites and solutions based on risk assessment. Preventing negative developments in transport and environment in CEE, such as decline of rail and urban public transport, by increasing the consistency of Community and country actions with proclaimed policies, Protection of biological and landscape diversity, as well as social structure, through sustainable rural development, Using to the full extent the opportunities for reduction of greenhouse gasses emissions through promotion of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and market based mechanisms. Use of economic instruments, spatial planning and Strategic Environmental Assessment as tools for sectoral integration, taking into account the CEE experience.] 7. Current trends in environmental and health impacts of the transport require a comprehensive policy response at national and international level. At the same time, the links between transport infrastructure and economic development and competitiveness are becoming less certain in view of communication and Internet technologies. The situation in Central and Eastern Europe offers a tremendous opportunity to preserve the still functioning public transport services and to leapfrog to the latest technologies and development models. EU policy needs to support this either through expanding the scope of transport policies beyond Trans European Networks to public transport and sustainable mobility, or through urban, structural, industrial and communication policies and in particular through community financial instruments. Special emphasis should be laid also on measures against noise pollution. First steps might include: a detailed strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of the Transport Infrastructure Needs Assessment (TINA) and of the National Development Plans in the PHARE countries; setting international coherent and quantifiable environmental objectives and targets for the transport sector and reporting by European Environmental Agency (EEA); opening a special window for urban public transport either in ISPA (later Cohesion Fund) or PHARE (later Structural Funds). We agree to initiate a consultation with the European Commission on these issues. We agree that the REC should facilitate the implementation of these conclusions through the existing structures. 8. With the enlargement, EU will substantially increase its natural heritage with the well preserved biological and landscape diversity in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. But the economic growth accompanied by EU Policies such as Trans - European Networks and Common Agricultural Policy can pose a serious threat to nature in the candidate countries. In the medium and long term, sustainable development can only be achieved by fully integrating nature and biodiversity conservation into economic, financial and land use sectors, preserving nature and at the same time enabling the citizens of the candidate countries to fulfill their aspirations for economic prosperity and quality of life. In the short term, it is important to expand the Natura 2000 network to the candidate countries as soon as possible; to identify possible conflicts and synergies between conservation of sites and other developments; establish procedures and instruments to resolve such conflicts (e.g. SEA) and create synergies; raise awareness of the stakeholders about the Natura 2000 networks and its meaning for their activities. 9. Climate change is an unprecedented challenge and critical environmental issue facing humankind. The world has experienced severe and unusual weather, consistent with many projections of the future impacts of climate change. Temperatures in the 1990s ranked amongst the highest on record and many parts of the world experienced unusually severe droughts, floods and storms. The participants in the 6th EAP confirm their commitment to ensure that results achieved at the 6th Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Climate Change Convention (COP6) at The Hague in November 2000 will ensure the integrity and credibility of the Kyoto Protocol and help promote the ratification and entry into force of the Protocol as soon as possible, but not later than 2002. The EU and the candidate countries have signed the Kyoto Protocol committing themselves to specific greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. In most candidate countries these emissions have actually dropped since 1990 because of economic decline and restructuring, which means that there are significant opportunities to meet and eventually exceed the Kyoto targets in the enlarged EU. Using the Kyoto mechanisms could give additional incentives while recognising that emissions reductions should be primarily achieved through domestic policies and measures. In order to achieve this, climate change considerations need to be integrated into the ongoing energy sector restructuring process through promotion of greener energy, new technologies and energy efficiency and market-based mechanisms such as Carbon Tax, phase out of subsidies harmful to the environment and the Kyoto mechanisms. The candidate countries are committed to develop their capacity for reporting, monitoring and verification with the view of fulfilling their greenhouse gas reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol. The EU should consider involving the candidate countries in the consultations about the European Emissions Trading Regime. In order to prepare a common negotiating position on joint implementation for the next SBI/SBSTA meeting in view of COP6, one meeting or more, if necessary, under the coordination of REC could be held, provided that necessary funding is supplied by interested donors. 10. We acknowledge the high costs associated with the full implementation of parts of the Acquis Communautaire relating to environmental infrastructure in the candidate countries. We also acknowledge that the costs will accumulate considerably if the implementation is delayed. At the same time, the implementation of the Acquis will secure improvement of environment for the citizens of the candidate countries, that is necessary. Nevertheless, the economic burden connected with the environmental improvement, will be substantial. In this respect the pre-accession financial instruments of the EU, such as ISPA, are very important, as are the activities of bilateral donors and International Financial Institutions. Although the financial and technical assistance cannot take the burden of costs from the taxpayers and users of infrastructure in candidate countries, it has an important catalytic and facilitating role. To maximize this role, it is important to secure close cooperation and mutual trust among the various institutions involved through the development of country strategies and specific projects. In doing this, special emphasis needs to be on cost effectiveness and affordability to the population. To secure cost effectiveness, the donor and EU funds have to be used to leverage funding from domestic sources and international financial institutions (IFIs). The role and responsibilities of the private sector, properly regulated, in investing in and operating both infrastructure and industry is recognised as a very important component to achieve the environmental objectives of the Environment for Europe process. In mobilising capital, whether it be private or public, proper guarantees for protection of health and environment need to be in place.   Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme for the South East Europe 11. The Stability Pact for South East Europe provides an unprecedented opportunity for stability and security in the SEE region and Europe as whole, as well as for environmental improvement and sustainable development. We consider that adressing environmental problems that threaten the future well being of the citizens of the region is a matter of urgency and should be regarded as humanitarian assistance; that regional problems require regional solutions and the Stability Pact offers the framework for the international community to assist in the reconstruction process; that the comprehensive reconstruction process within the framework of the Stability Pact offers a unique opportunity to integrate environmental and human health concerns into the economic sectors and forthcoming infrastructure projects, thus implementing the concept of sustainable development. 12. We congratulate the SEE Countries together with the European Commission and other donors, for their initiative to launch the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme. It is very timely and appropriate, and provides an important impetus to solving the existing environmental problems in the region. The work done in the last year by the Regional Environmental Center, the EAP Task Force, the UNEP Balkan Task Force and SECI provides a good strategic framework for the future work. The constructive approach of the countries in the region, as well as their readiness to cooperate, which has also been demonstrated at this meeting, highlights their commitment to integration into the structures of the EU. 13. We endorse the focus of the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme on a set of key priorities that address the short-term needs as well as long term objectives of the region in a cost effective manner. The priority areas of the Programme as identified by the SEE countries are: 1. Institutional strengthening and policy development. 2. Civil society development. 3. Rehabilitation of environmental damage from the wars in the region. 4. Projects with regional cooperation dimension, including participation in existing international instruments and programmes. 5. Support to priority national and local projects. 14. The implementation of the programme should aim at a level of environmental protection comparable with that of the EU. This will require appropriate support from the donor community to the SEE countries in an equitable manner and allocation of human and institutional resources in the SEE countries. Environmental cooperation between the SEE countries will provide important benefits to the citizens and the environment of these countries, as well as contribute to the objectives of the Stability Pact such as democratisation, economic development and increased security. It is particularly important that projects, plans and programmes for all sectors undergo environmental impact assessment or strategic environmental assessment. 15. We recognize the pledges already made by the donors to support the Programme and invite other donors to provide their support. We welcome the establishment of the Task Force for Implementation of the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme (REReP Task Force) under the Stability Pact, as the ad-hoc group, which will develop, update and facilitate the implementation and coordination of the REReP, co-chaired by a SEE country, on a rotating basis, and the European Commission, with REC serving as secretariat. The further process of the development and implementation of the REReP should be open to all countries, international organisations, institutions and NGOs who can make a contribution to its success. We wish the Task Force a lot of success in its first meeting in Cavtat, Croatia on July 6 and 7, 2000 and its future work.   Danube River Basin Cooperation 16. The Danube River drains a basin shared by 15 countries and represents one of the most important environmental assets of Europe. The International Convention on Cooperation for the Protection and Sustainable Use of the Danube River signed in Sofia in 1994 represents a joint commitment of the Danube countries to jointly work to improve the environmental and water quality conditions as well as to conserve and restore ecosystems. The Baia Mare cyanide spill in January this year and the subsequent pollution of Somes and Tisza Rivers in Romania, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Ukraine has further underlined the importance of cooperation for the protection of the ecosystems of Danube and its tributaries. 17. Considering the initiatives of Hungary to develop the base for an agreement on conservation and rehabilitation of ecosystems in the Danube River basin, and building on successful initiatives such as the Lower Danube Green Corridor, agreed upon by Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine in Bucharest on 5 June 2000, we agree that the ecosystem conservation and restoration in the Danube River Basin needs to be strengthened. Possibilities for an appropriate instrument to achieve this objective should be explored within the framework of the Danube River Protection Convention. 18. We appreciate the international cooperation of the four Tisza River countries: Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine, in strengthening of the information exchange and in identification and evaluation of potential pollution sources, as well as their joint activity in order to prevent accidental pollutions of the transboundary watercourses and enhance the environmental security. Yugoslavia expressed its willingness to be involved in this cooperation. We particularly welcome initiatives for River Basin management, based on Integrated Environmental Management Programmes, in line with the relevant EU Directives.   Kyiv (Kiev) Ministerial Conference 19. We thank the UN ECE, the OECD and other organizations and countries for the work done so far leading to the preparation of the Kyiv (Kiev) Ministerial Conference "Environment for Europe" in 2002. We consider that the Working Group of Senior Officials that will start its work in September this year should, inter alia: Welcome and support the ongoing work in the UN-ECE/WHO on a possible legally binding instrument (convention) on health, transport and environment. The question of such a legally binding instrument will be decided by the UN ECE/WHO high level meeting before the end of this year. Take into consideration the outcome of the meeting of NIS Economic and Environment ministers to be organized within the framework of the EAP Task Force in Kazakhstan on 16-17 October 2000 Welcome the ongoing work on investigating the opportunities for negotiation of a Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment and on Guidelines for environmental compliance and enforcement. Take into account the outcome of the Governmental Conference "Biodiversity in Europe", organised in Latvia in March 2000, as presented to COP5 of the Biodiversity Convention. Welcome the ongoing work on investigating the needs and opportunities for negotiating a Protocol on Environmental Liability within the framework of the existing UN ECE conventions on Industrial Accidents and Transboundary Waters and Lakes.   RIO + 10 20. We consider that the progress in environmental protection made in CEE in the last 10 years is a good and useful example of a rapid transition towards a more sustainable society also in view of the challenges ahead. We particularly recognize the importance of institutional strengthening and public participation for the implementation of Agenda 21. We consider that the achievements of the Central and Eastern European Countries as well as the progress made at the Pan-European level with instruments such as the Aarhus Convention are of global importance. We will engage actively in preparing for Rio+10. Europe should make an important contribution to the Rio +10 Conference of the United Nations in 2002, coordinating with the Environment for Europe process.

Program Timetable Press Release: REC Marks 10 Years of Helping CEE Environment