July 10, 1998 * Volume 1, Number 5
A A R H U S; P A N - E U R O P E A N I S S U E S
European ministers affirm environmental rights
The world cup of environmental meetings - a gathering of European environment ministers and officials from around the world that will probably not be equalled in scope for another four years - offered the promise of progress in environmental protection and democracy. On the last day of the June 23-25 meeting in Aarhus, Denmark, 36 countries and the EU adopted the first ever international convention on citizens' environmental rights, according to reports. This convention guarantees access to environmental information as well as the right to participate in decision-making and seek justice in environmental matters. Conference participants also stressed the importance of western assistance for Eastern and Central Europe, and signed a Policy Statement intended to provide economic incentives in this region. Other agreements included measures to reduce heavy metals and other pollutants.
Contact: Nina Holm, Press Officer, tel: (45-3) 266-0551, fax (45-3)
266-0536
REC given new role at Aarhus
The Aarhus conference marked an important watershed for the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) in Szentendre, Hungary. Through their discussions and the official declaration, ministers recognized that the Center has moved from being one of the products of the Environment for Europe process to being one of the key support organisations for this process.
"From our beginnings as a donor program to assist the CEE countries in their transition we have become an organisation supporting the CEE region in its efforts to improve the environment and become an active part of Europe," said Jernej Stritih, executive director of the REC. "In the run up to the conference, the REC worked as the secretariat for the Sofia Initiatives - four cooperative efforts by the CEE countries to move forward in the field of local air quality, biodiversity, environmental impact assessment and economic instruments. We participated in the drafting of the Public Participation Convention and provided substantive input into work done by OECD, UN ECE, UNEP and others. As a result, we have been asked to team up with OECD in facilitation of the Environmental Action Programme for the CEE. As the major priorities of this programme shift to the NIS countries, the REC will work as the secretariat for the CEE part of the EAP Task Force, while OECD will concentrate on Russia and the NIS. In addition to this, the REC Szentendre is now used as a model for the a number of sister organisations called New RECs in Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia and Central Asia."
Contact: Daniel McAdams, REC, (36-26) 504-000.
REC publications for Aarhus
The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) prepared several publications for the conference in Aarhus, Denmark. These can be of use to anyone interested in the region's environment. The publications are available in print and on the Internet. One new series, "Doors to Democracy," covers public participation, which was one of the focal points of the conference. The four volumes survey "current trends and practices in public participation in environmental decision making." Each volume covers a different region, the entire continent of Europe, Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States. Other publications cover the phase-out of lead in petrol and reports on the "Sofia Initiatives," projects aimed at improving the region's environment. There was also a new publication on the environmental technology market in the Baltics.
Contact: To orderthese, or other REC books, call Malgosia Mazurek, (36-26) 504-000. To view the books on the web, check:
www.rec.org/REC/Publications (Phase-out of Leaded Gasoline; Reduction of SO2 and Particulate Emissions) and
www.rec.org/REC/Programs/SofiaInitiatives.
Greenpeace: Non-EU nations may over-fish Mediterranean
While the European Union is phasing out driftnet fishing in the Mediterranean, a July 7 press release from Greenpeace expresses the concern that sea life is still in danger until countries that do not belong to the EU join the ban. Greenpeace released the statement in Rome, during a meeting of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, a regional treaty organisation which met July 7-10, according to reports. Large driftnets, which catch everything in their path, are illegal, but it is hard to enforce this law, especially if non-EU nations purchase the illegal nets, according to Greenpeace. The commission, which includes Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, FR Yugoslavia and 16 other nations that border on the Mediterranean are focusing on aquaculture, instead of driftnetting, said Environmental News Service.
Contact: Greenpeace members Alessandro Gianni, tel: (396-57) 299-904; or Jon Walter; web: http://www.greenpeace.org.
A R O U N D T H E R E G I O N
Hungary's new environment minister is sworn in
Smallholder Pál Pepó, the new minister for environmental protection in Hungary, was sworn in July 8, along with other members of the nation's new cabinet, which was created after recent elections brought a coalition of Young Democrats and Smallholders to power, according to reports. In interviews with local media, Pep— has said the ministry will act to recover the diverted Danube, and he will work at international forums against the operation of the Mochovce nuclear power plant in Slovakia, according to Hungary Around the Clock news service. Pepó, whose party is the junior partner in the new coalition, also stressed the need to develop a national strategy for environmental protection, the report said. Pep— pledged transparency and the fulfilment of international expectations, according to the report.
Contact: Hungarian Ministry of Environment and Regional Policy, tel: (36
-1) 457-3300.
Bulgaria targets leaded fuel
Bulgaria is reportedly using tax incentives to help make sure that it keeps pace with other European countries in an effort to phase out the use of leaded petrol. The Bulgarian government announced that excise taxes on unleaded fuel would be cut in half, to 60 percent, in the second half of this year, according to a report by Environment & Health Online. Bulgaria was one of about 30 nations to sign on to a declaration at the June 23-25 meeting at Aarhus, Denmark, to work toward phasing out leaded petrol by 2005.
Contact: Bulgarian Environment Minister Evdokia Maneva, tel: (359-2) 882-577.
N U C L E A R R O U N D U P
Austria glad that Czechs reconsider Temelin plant
Austria on July 2 welcomed the Czech government's decision to hire an independent team of experts to reassess the viability of the controversial Temelin nuclear power plant project, located in South Bohemia 70 kilometers from the Austrian border, according to reports by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Prague. The Czech cabinet decided July 1 to look into the financial viability of Temelin, which combines former Soviet and American technologies and has already gone far over budget, the radio news service said. Czech Environment Minister Martin Bursik reportedly said that the team will focus on the economic aspects of the project rather than questions over its safety. Austrian Minister for consumer protection Barbara Prammer expressed the hope that Austrian experts will be part of the team.
Contact: Rut Bizkova, Czech Environment Ministry, tel: (420-2) 6712-2040; or Dr. Martin Bartenstein, Austrian environment minister, tel: (43-1) 313-040.
Mochovce plant is plugged in
Austrian Consumer Protection Minister Barbara Prammer on July 5 criticised Slovakia for starting up the controversial Mochovce nuclear plant, which began operation the day before, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Prague. Austria has long opposeed the plant, which was connected to the national electricity grid on July 4 and began running at 20 percent of its capacity, supplying about 30 megawatts of electrical power, according to
reports.
Contact: plant operators Slovenske Elektrarne, tel: (42-17)
569-1111; or Greenpeace Austria, tel: (43-1) 545-4580.
Group circulates appeal against FR Yugoslavia nuclear dump
Green Table (Zeleni Sto) is circulating an e-mail petition to oppose plans to build a nuclear waste storage facility in an abandoned uranium mine near FR Yugoslavia's border with Bulgaria. The mine, near the village of Kalna in the mountainous natural park region of Stara Planina, could end up receiving 60 percent of Europe's nuclear waste, according to the petition, circulated by e-mail.
Contact: Green Table, web:
http://come.to/the.green.table, tel: (381-11) 457-463; or FR Yugoslavia environment ministry: (381-11) 635-910; or the FR Yugoslavia economic ministry: (381-11) 695-734.
Ukrainian radiation worries
Ukrainian activists have stepped up efforts against plans for new nuclear plants in the Ukraine. In a petition received July 6, a group called CEE Bankwatch Network said the two reactors at Khmelnitsky 2 and Rovno 4 in Ukraine "are not in the financial or environmental interests of Ukraine." The group said the EBRD has approved the initial review for completion of the reactors, which means that NGOs can now register for the public participation procedure. The group urged opponents of the plan to apply to participate by sending e-mail to: JonesV@ebrd.com and pmg@edf-tractebel-ivo.ru.kiev.ua, with copies to: david_collier@greenstreet.co.uk.
Contact: CEE-Bankwatch, e-mail: petr.hlobil@ecn.cz; or Ministry of Environmental Protection and Nuclear Safety, tel: (380-44) 228-0644.
W H O W E A R E
About Green Horizon
Green Horizon is a free newsletter designed to help journalists stay ahead of environmental news in Central and Eastern Europe. Twice a month, we'll offer tips on upcoming stories to watch for, as well as information and ideas to help you develop in-depth pieces about the region's environment. Green Horizon is produced by the Media Information Service (MIS) of the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe. The goal of the MIS is to assist the media in covering environmental issues. It is funded by the European Commission's DG-XI and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
For a free subscription, research assistance or to find a source: Send
e-mail to: GreenHorizon@rec.org, or call Tom Popper at (36-26) 504-000, fax (36-26) 311-294.
Funded by European Commission's DG-XI and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
