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Background
The development and implementation of water charging policies based on sound economic and environmental principles has been rather slow and heterogeneous in Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs). However, drastic changes in charging and pricing policies are likely to occur in the coming years, in the context of the enlargement process of the European Union (EU) and with the increasing importance given to the environment in CEECs. As specified in the proposed Water Framework Directive, for example, water pricing policies will need to act as incentives in order to achieve environmental improvements in the status of water bodies. Also, financial resources will be required for complying with the environmental acquis, e.g. the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
Objectives
The overall objective of this conference is to review the priority issues and future options for water pricing policies in CEECs. More specifically, the conference will:
- Review existing water pricing policies in CEECs;
- Identify the key factors (technical, socio-economic, institutional, etc) that explain existing water pricing policies;
- Assess the adequacy of existing water pricing policies for addressing present and future challenges faced by the water sector in CEECs, with particular emphasis to the enlargement process; and
- Identify the key constraints and potentials for adapting water pricing policies to these challenges and objectives.
The conference will aim at increasing public awareness on the potential role water pricing can play in addressing environmental and economic issues in the water sector in CEECs in the context of the enlargement to the EU. Obstacles to water pricing policy reforms and examples of best practice will be presented and discussed. The conference will also identify existing information and knowledge gaps which should be addressed in the coming years through monitoring and research programmes to ensure adequate pricing policies can be effectively designed and implemented.
Content of the conference
The conference will cover a range of issues during a series of presentations by key experts in the field of water management/water pricing policy, and interactive discussions with the audience. The following topics will be investigated during separate sessions:
- Existing water pricing policies in CEECs and in Member States of the EU
- The environmental, economic and social impacts of water pricing policies
- Moving towards pricing policies that better account for economic and environmental principles - guiding principles and documents
- Main issues in the implementation of water pricing policies
Format of the conference
Practicalities
The conference will take place at the head office of the REC in Szentendre (Hungary). The conference language will be English. Further information regarding the Conference facilities can be found in the attached documents.
Participants
The conference is open to invited participants only. Places are restricted in order to encourage fruitful and interactive discussions between participants representing different stakeholders (governmental institutions, national, regional and municipal water management bodies, representatives from environmental funds and from international financial institutions, NGOs, private water companies, environment consultancies and researchers) of different CEECs and EU Member States.
For more information:
The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe
SIEI Secretariat
Ady Endre ut 9-11
2000 Szentendre
Hungary
email: waterinfo@rec.org
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Green Budget Reform
Economic Instruments
Sofia Initiatives
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