Network of Environmental and Finance Specialists Assessment of Institutional and Policy Framework for Priority Environmental Investments in South Eastern Europe (205-KByte PDF file)   Study Visits Study visit I – November 2002 Subject: Environmental Funds The REC organised a ten-day study visit to successful environmental funds in the Czech Republic and Poland in order to transfer expertise in the field of environmental financing to South Eastern European countries. The visit was attended by the environmental financing experts and aimed at familiarising participants with the operations of environmental funds, the project cycle management, priority setting, and the economic instruments in use, the implications of the EU accession process on environmental funds and good management practices for environmental projects. The study visit contributed to broadening the participants’ knowledge on institutional set-up and day-to-day operations for environmental funds. Study visit II – November 2003 Subject: Environmental Investments This study visit to Poland was organised for environmental financing experts from South Eastern Europe. The aims of the study tour were to show a successful example of the municipality undertaking environmental investments (example of city of Poznan) and to share experience on the management of environmental investments in the cross-border areas (example of Polish-German border). In Poznan, participants visited the city transport company, the Environmental Protection Department of the City Council, a wastewater treatment plant, a combined heat and power plant, and representatives of local NGOs. Additionally, the participants visited the International Environmental Exhibition – POLEKO, which is the biggest environmental fair in Central and Eastern Europe. In the cross-border area, participants visited the Marshall office in Zielona Gora (the most successful region in Poland in absorbing Phare Cross Border Cooperation Funds) and a wastewater treatment plant in Gubin (joined capital investment of Polish and German municipalities).   Regional Meetings I Regional Meeting – March 2003, Budapest, Hungary The first regional meeting gathered experts and decision makers from South Eastern Europe and representatives from the donor community. The main aims of the meeting were to discuss the work on regional environmental priorities, to present the approach towards prioritisation of environmental investment projects, to discuss the status of collecting national lists of priority projects and to discuss the draft regional assessment of the institutional and policy framework for implementation of the environmental investment projects. Download The List of Participants (174-KByte PDF file) II Regional Meeting – June 2003 Ohrid, FYR Macedonia The second regional meeting gathered experts and decision makers from South Eastern Europe and representatives from the donor community and international financing institutions. The meeting was focused on endorsement of the Priority Environmental Investment Programme (PEIP) and discussions on the implementation of the PEIP. Additionally, the follow-up activities for the Network of Environmental and Finance Specialists were discussed. Download The List of Participants (226-KByte PDF file)

Home Donors Support Priority Environmental Investment Programme Contacts Network of Environmental and Finance Experts Support on a municipal level