MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT of Tirana has an Environmental Office which is involved in the solution of urban environmental problems. However, they have no decisive power in the implementing of environmental policy. The establishment of an Environmental Office within the Municipality of Tirana seems to be more of an unofficial personal achievement of certain individuals than an official, accepted structure for all local authorities.
RESEARCH ACADEMIES do not have much influence and are mainly passive. They are sometimes asked by the CEP for advice and personal experience. Scientists are not organized as an interest group, but act as individuals. However, many scientists are NGO members.
ENVIRONMENTAL NGOs role in the environmental decision-making process is very limited. The position of the environmental NGOs seems even to have dropped since the political changes. NGOs (especially the Association for the Preservation and Protection of the Natural Environment of Albania "PPNEA" and the Biologists Association) are regularly asked for advice by the CEP. Some NGO actions were successful in influencing governmental decision and sometimes they received broad support from the public. Some PPNEA members are journalists, working on environmental documentaries. Although PPNEA started to make TV programs only recently they believe that those programs reach many people.
NGOs and SCIENTISTS are having an impact on environmental decision-making, though it is probably less now than it was directly after the initial political changes in Bulgaria. Up to and at that time the environment was used as a platform for criticizing the previous system. Now, however, people have other priorities and the environment has fallen far on the agenda. NGOs and scientists are successful, however, at carrying out educational and training courses, and becoming involved in EIAs.
The MEDIA could potentially play a significant role in environmental decision-making but it still tends towards sensationalism and does not always present the facts.
TRADE UNIONS, especially the mining union, are quite strong and usually have negative impacts on environmental decision-making.
NATIONAL and LOCAL GOVERNMENTS are having the greatest impact. However, there is a need for a separate MoE. Local governments have the biggest impact on local issues such as waste management and urban transport.
ACADEMICS are not as involved as they should be in the decision-making process. There are good experts and research institutions, but cooperation among them is poor and their capacities are quite under- utilized.
ENVIRONMENTAL NGOs need to play a stronger role and should have a greater impact on the decision-making process. Now there influence is more on the personal level. The NGOs which organize for special actions and local issues can have a larger impact. The NGO's influence is limited because the public has lost the interest in environmental issues. Other limiting factors are: the lack of funding, organizational skills, and education.
BUSINESS and INDUSTRY are having an increasing impact. They have the money and it is difficult to control and influence them. However, industry is still mostly state controlled in Croatia. In the long term, privatization could be beneficial for the environment, if combined with effective legislation and enforcement.
ACADEMIA and SCIENCE are having a weak influence on the environmental decision-making process.
ENVIRONMENTAL NGOs have considerable influence on environmental decision-making with regard to some specific, local issues (sometimes they can mobilize public and/or media pressure), but limited impact on issues relating to environmental policy. They have generally been criticized for their inadequate efforts which were described as poorly coordinated and not visible enough. This situation seems to be slowly improving. Their influence is often not as strong as it could be and they still are not demanding too much.
The BUSINESS COMMUNITY is becoming increasingly more influential in the environmental decision-making process. Some experts think that the growing strength of the economic lobbies will possibly have negative impacts on the environment. However, there is growing interest among companies in improving their individual environmental policies as well as in integrating environmental concerns into the national economic policy in a practical and feasible way.
The MEDIA has considerable influence but reports focus mainly on "hot stories" with a tendency towards sensationalism. The main approach is popular. There is insufficient coverage of the real issues and of reporting about positive and constructive examples of environmental protection.
The PUBLIC is mainly interested in obvious environmental harms such as some types of air pollution or drinking water contamination. Low environmental awareness is behind the failure of the few efforts for selective waste collection. The development of consumption patterns clearly works against the environmental interest.
The MEDIA is generally not meeting its possibilities or responsibilities in raising environmental awareness. A small group of journalists tries to keep environment on the agenda. However reports often rely on sensationalism instead of presenting positive solutions to common problems.
ENVIRONMENTAL NGOs should re-define their role. Some organizations have gained valuable experience and are capable of consulting work now. Cooperation between all interest groups, especially at the local level, should have priority.
The NATIONAL GOVERNMENT received the next most mention as the dominant influence on environmental decision-making. A few experts noted that while the State Government should have the most influence, it does not.
SCIENTIFIC EXPERTS were also cited as having significant impact on environmental decision-making. One expert noted that NGOs with scientific experts have been especially effective. Like some comments about the State Government, a few of the experts explained that scientists should have the primary influence but do not.
LOCAL and REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS are increasingly charged with environmental responsibilities. At this level environmental policy is implemented, permits issued, standards negotiated and facility sitings approved. The growing significance of local and regional governments brings mixed blessings as some governments give environmental issues high priority while others do not.
BUSINESSES and INDUSTRY were often mentioned as having great impact on decision-making, largely for the worse. Because of the current pervasive public concern for economic growth and employment security the influence of businesses has strengthened markedly. Now the environment is very low on most agendas and business interests are capitalizing on this by influencing decision-making processes to their benefit. Businesses often resist environmental protection measures, first of all because they are able to, and secondly because they are viewed merely as a drain on profits.
TRADE UNIONS were also mentioned as having significant influence, again with negative results for the environment. The lobbying efforts of trade unions keep precious resources flowing to inefficient sectors badly in need of restructuring, which in turn hampers the mobility of labor and capital which could be better used in other areas, including environmental protection.
NGOs and the MEDIA were noted for having very important and evolving roles to play. Currently, however, they are reported as relatively weak and requiring strengthening in order to fulfil their potentials. The media was acknowledged as potentially having strong influence but was criticized as being inconsistent and unprofessional.
PARLIAMENT is having significant influence, in a negative sense, with its failure to enact a new environmental protection law.
ENVIRONMENTAL NGOs' influence on environmental decision-making is growing, but remains relatively low. To some extent this depends on the individual organization, as some include highly qualified experts while others are lacking specialists.
The MEDIA's influence in this field is also growing. They are now free and uncensored and able to distribute information quickly to many people.
SCIENTISTS have some influence through their research and ability to recommend standards and various policy options, however, their role is limited in part because of the poor coordination and distribution of the results of their work.
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS such as the World Bank, the EC and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development also have notable influence through the conditions they attach to grants and loans given to the government as well as policy advice they provide.
The MEDIA can potentially play a big role in Slovakia, unfortunately however, they aren't concerned much with environmental awareness and education.
NGOs and ACADEMICS play a role in environmental protection, but they don't have much power and influence. The public is now less inclined to accept the NGOs opinions than they were 4-5 years ago. The influence of academia as a whole has diminished because of a lack of money. Also, NGOs with professional knowledge are facing insufficient financial support and are weakening. The amount of official support (State budget) for NGOs has decreased steadily since 1991 and only a few NGOs are still being supported.
ACADEMICS do not have enough influence. The decision-making system is not taking into consideration the opinion of a wider group of experts. Usually, experts working in the institutes belonging to the ministries have more impact.
NGOs and the MEDIA do not have a very strong impact. The NGO movement is being restructured now and new NGOs are forming. Their role is expanding, however. The media generally plays a positive, albeit weak, role.
PARLIAMENT has a limited role and its decisions are sometimes difficult to implement due to political problems.
POLITICAL GREENS provided a certain alternative during the last Government but they could not put into practice what they promised.
BUSINESSES have a strong and increasing influence. There is an element of the business community which is internationally oriented and is coping with European standards and thus plays a positive role in improving the environment.