| A determined effort to succeed in the phase-out of lead has been demonstrated by the SILAQ countries and their supporters over the last three years. Yet for some countries the process will last until between 2003 and 2005. Therefore it is obvious that for some countries the largest tasks still lie ahead.
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| Experience Sharing | As most of the CEE and NIS countries face similar problems and obstacles in phasing out lead, there is a demonstrated need across the region for sharing and learning from each other's experiences. A multi-country follow up project to the SILAQ Initiative would enable participating countries to:
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| Further Support | To maintain the momentum gained during the last three years of the SILAQ Initiative, a continuation of external support is essential. The continued assistance is of principal importance to those CEE countries where economic transition is still slow and hard, and where the implementation processes will face problems. To this end, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, the World Bank and the Regional Environmental Center as well as the European Commission and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will be invited to continue their support. Under the aegis of the SILAQ Working Group, and with the work coordination provided by the Regional Environmental Center, small joint-expert teams could be established to facilitate the exchange of experiences and the creation of synergies among participating parties, and through this, to help accelerate the lead phase-out process. Exchanges of experience could focus on successful programs and case studies, and would address the major constraints to the implementation of lead phase-out activities. For example, the experiences of Slovakia in the rapid and relatively smooth phase-out of leaded gasoline, or the experience of Hungary where production of leaded gasoline will be completely phased out by the year 2000, could provide useful lessons for countries less advanced in their efforts.
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| Technical Inspections | The SILAQ countries might also initiate country studies on how best to address technical problems resulting from the characteristics of vehicle fleets. Work could also focus on the implementation of effective emission control systems and the periodic technical inspection of vehicles. In this context, the experience of the countries successful in the phase-out, as well as input from such institutions as the US Environmental Protection Agency, the World Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development would be of great value and importance.
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| Long-term Goals | Such joint activities would hopefully facilitate Task Force initiatives to realize the pan-European strategy for the phase-out of leaded gasoline, as recommended in the Pan European Strategy to Phase-out Lead in Gasoline. The data collected to date by the SILAQ Working Group serves as a particularly good basis for the transfer of experience to those CEE and NIS countries where less progress has been made in introducing lead phase-out policies. The follow up to Sofia Initiatives for Local Air Quality, organized as a multi-country regional cooperation project, and opened up to new participants, would not only accelerate the phase-out of lead but also contribute to the European integration process.
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