Implementation of the Environmental Action Programme for CEE

 

 

Sofia Initiative
Local Air Pollution

 

 

 

 

 

Meeting Minutes

 

 

 

SILAQ Working Group Meeting
Sofia, Bulgaria; May 20-21, 1998

 

 

Submitted by the Secretariat

 

 

 

Chair:  Secretariat:
Bulgaria
Dr. Dimitar Kantardjiev, Director General
The National Center for Environment and
Sustainable Development to the Ministry of
Environment and Waters
136, Tzar Boris III blvd
1618 Sofia, Bulgaria
Tel.: (359 2) 955 90 11
Fax: (359 2) 95590 15
E-mail: ncesd@online.bg

Mr. Miroslav Chodák, Project Manager
The Regional Environmental Center
Ady Endre út 9-11, 2000 Szentendre, Hungary
Tel.: (36-26) 504-000; Fax: (36-26) 311-294
http://www.rec.org/ E-mail: mchodak@rec.org

Mr. Mihail Staynov, Liaison Officer
REC Local Office Bulgaria
42, Alabin Str., 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Tel./Fax.: (359 2) 980 37 30
E-mail: mstaynov@bulnet.bg

 

 

 

Sofia Initiative: Collaborative Programme on Improving Local Air Quality in Central and Eastern Europe

Minutes of the Working Group Meeting, 20-21 may 1998

 

  1. The meeting of the Sofia Initiative Working Group on Collaborative Programme on Improving Local Air Quality in Central and Eastern Europe (SILAQ) organised by the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) took place on 20-21 May, 1998 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

  2. The goal of the meeting was to agree on the reporting of the activities done by the Working Group (WG) before the Ministerial Conference in Aarhus, Denmark in June 1998, to adopt the final version of the two Synthesis Papers prepared by REC, and to discuss their conclusions and the proposals with the representatives of supporting countries and organizations.


    DAY 1

  3. The first day of the meeting was attended by Working Group members - representatives from Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovenia, as well as representatives from the REC. For logistical reasons the representatives from Romania and Slovakia were unable to attend (due to engagements in other events).

  4. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Dimitar Kantardjiev (Chairman of the Working Group).

  5. The Chairman opened the meeting and briefed the WG members on the distributed papers and the procedures of the meeting.

  6. Following an introduction to the goals and meeting agenda by the facilitator, the WG members and their responsibilities were discussed. The members also shared their countries priorities with regard to improving local air quality. The representatives of Slovakia and Slovenia briefed WG members on their countries process in phasing out leaded gasoline and reducing sulphur emissions and particulates.

  7. The Working Group members convened to express their final comments and recommendations regarding the two Synthesis Papers and to discuss the Final Report of the SILAQ Working Group.

  8. The final version of the two Synthesis Papers was presented by the representatives of the consultancy team which had prepared the reports.

  9. Concerning the Synthesis Paper on Phase out in Gasoline:

    a) This was Croatia's first participation in the discussions of the Working Group. The representatives from this country acquainted the members with the situation in Croatia. The four refineries of the Croat petrol company INA produce 60% of the gasoline for domestic consumption with lead content 0.5 mg/l, while the remaining part with lead content 0.15mg/l is for export. By 2002 the whole production will contain 0.15 mg/l and by 2007 only unleaded gasoline will be produced. The main problems in this country are connected with the old vehicle park, outdated technologies in the refineries and lack of financing for reconstruction. A ban for importation of cars, produced before 1991, is in force.
    b) The Czech Republic maintains that the last version of the Synthesis Paper follows the remarks and recommendations expressed during the previous discussion. It is accurate and presents a realistic picture of the situation and problems. The representatives of the countries presented their comments concerning the report and shared their experience in the techniques applied to limit the use of leaded gasoline and in encouraging the use of unleaded gasoline (including on cars with catalytic converters). Poland will submit the Synthesis Paper to the ministry for discussion.

     

  10. Regarding the Synthesis Paper on the Reduction of SO2 and Particulate Emissions: The representatives of the countries had some specific comments on the paper. Their conclusion was that different technologies were applied in the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Hungary and it would be beneficial if the information was exchanged to compare the efficiency in different operational conditions. It would be useful to organize a study tour and a cost-benefit analysis of the applied methods.

  11. The comments and recommendations will be taken into consideration when preparing the publishing of the Papers.

  12. The additional documents, submitted after the meeting of the Working Group, will be compiled in a Full Set of the SILAQ papers for the Working Group members.

  13. The Final Report of the work carried out by the SILAQ Working Group was presented as a Discussion Paper. The text of the Report was examined very thoroughly so that all changes were duly made. The WG members defined the major issues upon which the work of the programme should be based in the future, and agreed on the expected outcomes from its implementation. The final adopted version of the text of the Report is enclosed as Attachment B to the Minutes.


DAY 2

  1. The Bulgarian Minister of Environment and Waters invited representatives from Denmark, Germany, USEPA, the World Bank, UNDP and HIID to participate in the meeting. The representatives from USEPA, UNDP and HIID were able to attend the meeting. The other invited participants were unable to attend due to many engagements connected with the Ministerial Conference in Aarhus.

  2. On behalf of the Working Group members, the representative of the REC presented the main points in the Report which was approved during day one, namely: a report on the work carried out, an assessment of the situation in the countries of the Working Group related to the phase out of lead in gasoline and SO2 and Particulate emissions and other problems regarding the ambient air quality, recommendations and intentions for future joint work.

  3. The representatives of the USEPA, UNDP and HIID estimated highly the work carried out by the Working Group on the SILAQ programme and the effectiveness of the chosen type of organisation for co-operation. After a discussion, in which all attendees participated, the belief that the programme should continue and that the necessary financing should be sought, was expressed by all participants. The following additional recommendations were given:

    a) to support the local authorities and NGOs to co-operate their activities;
    b) to promote co-operation with Task Groups consisting of experts from governmental organisations, local authorities and NGOs on specific problems;
    c) to assist the governments in receiving feedback and information about the public opinion on the policy and measures which they intend to undertake;
    d) to initiate small scale pilot projects with the local authorities and popularising their experience (projects for transport, traffic and car inspection);
    e) to increase the area of emphasis with the problems of green house gases and Nitrogen oxides emissions;
    f) to seek co-operation with Capacity 21 projects and working out national programmes based on community models
    g) to take into consideration the comments and recommendations when preparing the final version of the Report.



    Attachments: A. List of participapants
      B. Final report for the work done by the SILAQ Working Group
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