The comprehensive and representative character of the Report stems from the method of preparation. Questionnaire-based interviews were conducted by the REC staff, contractors, and volunteers, with top government, non-governmental organization (NGO), academic and business environmental experts from the region. The list of interviewed experts is presented in Appendix 1. The questionnaire used to conduct the interviews is shown in Appendix 2. The Annex summarizes strategic environmental issues as seen in the respective CEE countries. As an additional result of the interviews, a series of country reports was produced. These have been published as a second volume of this Report.
The basic assumption initiating this project was that environmental problems in the CEE countries cannot be solved in isolation from political, economic and social issues. New mechanisms and driving forces which are contributing to the ongoing transformation of the CEE countries must be considered. Therefore, the environmental perspective presented here has been described in conjunction with the challenges and achievements of the market-driven social and economic systems being established in the CEE countries.
The Lucerne Ministerial Conference on Environment held in April 1993 adopted the Environmental Action Program for Central and Eastern Europe (EAP). The intention of our Report is to map out the ideas of environmental experts from CEE countries regarding strategic environmental issues. A picture of the needs and expectations drawn from the collected opinions may serve to supplement the recommendations of the Environmental Action Program; documentation of the collective perception of their own problems may facilitate implementation of the proposed Action Program. The Program may be successful in the CEE countries only if it is perceived by CEE people as its Western authors intended it to be perceived.
This Report is the outcome of several discussions held at the REC starting with a brain-storming session on 16 August 1993. An advisory group consisting of Andrzej Kassenberg (Poland), Jan Kara (Czech Republic), Evgueni Popov (Bulgaria), Nenad Starc (Croatia), Gabor Szabo (Hungary) and Angheluta Vadineanu (Romania) helped in designing an approach and work plan, as well as in arranging interviews. The same group, plus Milan Caha (Czech Republic) and Sandor Kerekes (Hungary), but without Jan Kara (provided comments in writing), Nenad Starc and Gabor Szabo, discussed a draft report on January 10-11, 1994. They provided comments which helped to improve both the substance and appearance of the Report presented here.
This Report is the product of a collective effort of the REC Initiatives Team supported by advisors, volunteers and contractors. Those who worked on collecting interviews, drafting country reports and preparing the Annex and Appendixes are: Andras Bezegh, Jason Brandwene, Sergiu Cristofor, Patrick Francis, Marijana Ivanova, Renata Kiss, Jürg Klarer, George Romanca, Voline van Teeseling, Nianta Thomas, Magdolna Toth Nagy, Veselava Tsakova and Janos Zlinszky.
Significant additional contributions from outside the REC were provided by Jürg Klarer (Annex, two country reports and crucial contributions to all stages of the project including coordination), Patrick Francis (Report and Annex edition and revision, and four country reports), and Voline van Teeseling (two country reports and participation in several internal discussions). Marguerite Downey language proofed the completed Report. Desktop publishing and publication layout was performed by Jürg Klarer.
We would like to thank them all for their valuable contribution.
Stanislaw Sitnicki
Executive Director