Implementation of the Environmental Action Programme for CEE

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

Report of the First Meeting

1. The first meeting of the Sofia Initiative Working Group on Collaborative Programme on Improving Local Air Quality in Central and Eastern Europe (SILAQ) organized by the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) took place on 12-13 February, 1997 in Szentendre, Hungary.

    

2. The goal of the meeting was to agree on the role and responsibilities of the Working Group (WG), the activities to be carried out before the Ministerial Conference in Aarhus, Denmark in June 1998, and to present the agreed Work Plan clearly to the potential donors for their consideration.

 

Day 1

1. The first day of the meeting was attended by Working Group members - representatives from Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, as well as representatives from the REC. An observer from the Harvard Institute for International Development (HIID) was also present. For logistical reasons the representative from Romania was unable to attend.

    

2. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Yontcho Pelovsky (Chairman of the Working Group), and was facilitated by Mr. Miroslav Chodak, Project Manager at the REC. The participants were welcomed by Mr. Jernej Stritih, Executive Director of the REC.

    

3. The Chairman opened the meeting and briefed the WG members on the Sofia Initiatives. He proposed to assist the representatives of CEE countries in receiving the support of decision makers from within their respective ministries. He also proposed to split the Working Group into two subgroups in relation to the interests of the countries and the personal expertise of the members and informed the participants of the establishment of two subworking groups at the national level within the Ministry of Environment of Bulgaria.

    

4. 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.

    

5. The WG members defined the major issues upon which the Work Plan will be based, and agreed on the expected outcomes from the implementation of SILAQ. The Chairman distributed a brief questionnaire on the main Air-Quality-Problems to be discussed. Questions included: what are the main sources for SO_x and/or NO_x pollutants, what are the existing strategies for SO_x/NO_x reduction, what by-products generated from air cleaning systems can be utilized in the target countries, whether target countries are interested in a dry process by which SO_x and NO_x can be transformed into nitrogen fertilizers. At the end of the meeting the Chairman collected WG members' completed questionnaires.

    

6. The WG members agreed to include the following activities in the Work Plan according to the two areas of SILAQ:

    

   1. promotion of unleaded gasoline:
      • completion of a questionnaire in order to obtain a comprehensive overview of the situation in the target CEE countries (Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia) with respect to phasing out leaded gasoline;
      • preparation of a synthesis paper, which will overview the situation in CEE countries and contain analysis and interpretation of the results of the questionnaire;
      • organization of a Regional Workshop on unleaded gasoline in June in Bourgas, Bulgaria covering three main issues: health aspects, economic aspects and preparation of a schedule for the phasing out of leaded gasoline;
      • preparation of case-studies illustrating successful lead phase-out programmes and those problems encountered in CEE countries from phasing out leaded gasoline;
      • development of an accessible database of available technologies and alternatives containing pertinent data;
      • support to WG member countries in the preparation of in-country analyses on the basis of detailed technical studies on available technology options and alternatives as well as cost and benefits options, phaseout schedules and possible scenarios. Furthermore, support to specific projects and project proposals, and legislative, economic and investment needs for implementation.

       

   2. reduction of sulphur and particulates emissions:
      • completion of a questionnaire in order to obtain a comprehensive overview of the situation in the target CEE countries with respect to reducing emissions of sulphur and particulates;
      • preparation of a synthesis paper, which will overview the situation in CEE countries and contain analysis and interpretation of results of the questionnaire;
      • organization of a Regional Workshop on reduction of sulphur and particulates emissions in September (probably in Poland or Slovenia) to exchange experience on successful local pollution abatement programmes in CEE;
      • preparation of case-studies from selected CEE countries illustrated positive experiences in reducing levels of sulphur and particulates in urban areas;
      • development of an accessible database of best practices applied in reducing levels of sulphur and particulates in urban areas;
      • support to WG member countries in the preparation of in-country analyses on the basis of detailed technical studies on available technology options and alternatives as well as cost and benefits option, existing experience and state of technology, preparing of schedules and possible scenarios. Furthermore, support to specific projects and project proposals, and legislative, economic and investment needs for implementation;
      • identification of the level of assistance required to implement measures for reducing emissions and for pilot projects proposed to serve as demonstration examples and sources of good practices.

    

7. The main issues to be addressed in the questionnaire in relation to the phase-out of lead in gasoline are:
   • health impact of phase-out
   • role of the market
   • pricing
   • regulations encouraging the phase-out of lead in gasoline
   • options/scenarios
   • cost and benefits
   • import of old/new cars
   • information about the composition of the vehicle fleet and how old fleet can be converted to unleaded gasoline
   • experience sharing
   • additives
   • devices
   • alternative fuels

    

8. Since a questionnaire must be completed for the Pan-European study (under the EAP/Task Force for phasing out of lead in gasoline), it was decided that the results of this survey would be adopted for the SILAQ project rather than to initiate a separate questionnaire. In case questionnaire completion is delayed, WG countries representatives agreed to complete a shorter questionnaire (proposed by the Chairman) before March 15, 1997. On the basis of the data collected from the questionnaires, the respective countries will prepare and submit country reports by May 15, 1997. The reports will be presented at the Regional Workshop to be held in Bourgas, Bulgaria in June, 1997. Target countries are invited to propose the most convenient dates for the workshop.

    

9. The main issues to be addressed in the questionnaire in relation to the reduction of sulphur and particulates emissions are:
   • country compliance with the protocol on Sulphur emissions
   • approximation to EU legislation
   • regulations
   • level of emissions from thermal power stations and heating systems
   • content of sulphur in diesel fuels vs. lubricity
   • prioritizing of the measures
   • best technologies and practices
   • financial strategies at the local level
   • cost/benefit analysis of alternative solutions
   • point vs. non-point sources
   • financing mechanisms

    

10. It was decided that country assessments concerning the emission of SOx and particulates will be based on the data collected from the questionnaire (as has been develop by the Bulgarian delegation). Questionnaires are expected to be completed by May 31, 1997. While country reports should be completed before June 30, 1997. The reports will be presented at the Regional Workshop to be held in September, 1997. The date of the Workshop will be decide at the Workshop on phasing-out lead on gasoline in Bourgas.

     

11. The Working group agreed that the above-mentioned issues/questions listed in paragraphs 9 and 11 are dearly at different stage of development for the individual countries. Therefore, it was decided that the format and scope of the country reports should be flexible with regard to the national and local situations and approaches within the different countries. Furthermore, country reports will be addressed to expert level and should contain statistical, technological and other information, including figures and tables. Synthesis reports will be prepared on the basis of the country reports, and will be presented to politicians and decision-makers at the Ministerial Conference in Aarhus in 1998.

 

Day 2

1. During the second day the meeting was attended by all the previous days' participants and by invited representatives of countries and institutions, namely Denmark, Germany, USA and World Bank.

    

2. The Chairman of the Working Group and the representative of Poland presented the planned Working Group activities and the concrete milestones of the Work Plan.

    

3. Denmark presented the objectives and activities of the UN ECE Task Force for Phasing Out Lead in Gasoline in Europe (which is also chaired by Denmark) and recognized the significance of the Sofia Initiatives in the overall context of Pan-European initiatives. The participants agreed on the importance of coordinating efforts, and the benefit of SILAQ member countries being among the first to participate in this Pan-European initiative.

    

4. All participants expressed their recognition of the need for public awareness of the health effects from the phase-out of lead in gasoline and reduction of SOx emissions for the successful implementation of the project.

    

5. The donor countries endorsed the activities undertaken under SILAQ and encouraged the continued co-operation among the Working Group members. They expressed their readiness to support projects in the two main areas of SILAQ, which are well prepared and substantiated, and are presented along the lines of bilateral agreements. It was recommended that information on the types of demonstration projects planned and implemented on a bilateral or regional level be exchanged, the results of these projects would be reported at the meetings of the EAP/Task Force. In addition the donors offered to provide experts who would make presentations on the concrete issues of the workshops (such as health effects, public awareness, costs/benefit analyses, technical studies on available technology options, economical models and pricing).

    

6. The provisional agenda for the Regional Workshop in Bourgas, Bulgaria was prepared and will be submitted to all the members of the Working Group for comments and final approval.

 

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Attachment B

Work plan 1997-1998

a) advanced promotion of unleaded gasoline throughout the region:

b) the significant reduction of sulphur and particulates emissions:

 

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Attachment C

WORKSHOP
for Phasing Out of Lead in Gasoline
10th-12th June, 1997, Bourgas, Bulgaria

Provisional Agenda

Auditory: Representatives of

• Ministries of Environment
• Refineries

 

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