Referring to the accession process, the environment sector can not be considered an independent element but an integrated concept in the so-called sectoral approach. In autumn 1997, the National Environmental Programme was adopted and represents a milestone in Hungary's preparation for EU accession, nature conservation and regional policy under Ministry for Environment activities. This Programme will run for the next six years and will not only help to ensure cross-sectoral cooperation, but Hungary's path toward EU harmonisation. This also helps to guarantee Hungary's participation in pre-accession funding and programme opportunities such as the 5^th Framework Programme.

The National Environmental Programme has helped in assessing Hungary's position with regard to overall environment progress and related activities in the Telematics field. Telematics is not considered simply an add-on tool for solving environmental problems but a basic founding activity integrated within the overall harmonisation process. This special and upcoming field is growing in importance in Hungary's pre-accession work, both in environment and EU harmonisation, and helps underline the principle of subsidiarity. Telematics is recognised as a tool that can help to ensure the full transparency of this process, which can involve and inform the public, nongovernmental organisations and environmental interest groups, and which can help ensure cooperation with other sectors of the economy (energy, construction, medicine, and agriculture). It can also help to ensure the availability of reliable environmental information for the decisionmaker, an element central to the success of the above processes.

In closing, full support was given to the conference, its goals and objectives. The European Commission was also thanked for its assistance to date in this field, alongside UNEP GRID, and the OECD for enabling Hungary to reach its current level of development. Hungary in particular looks forward to future cooperation in this field.