The role of environment telematics
in the approximation
process
for the 'Accession' of
CEE Countries
Approximation processin the approximation process
for the 'Accession' of CEE Countries
The implications of the enlargement of the European Union for the ten accession countries of Central and Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia) will significantly determine most of the ten countries' environmental policy making for the next five to ten years. The Czech Republic, Estonia Hungary, Poland, Slovenia are currently negotiating their accession with a rapid procedure because of their better economic and social situation compare d to the other five CEE countries.
Environmental protection presents greater challenges than in any previous accession because of the past environmental damage and the gaps in the legislation concerned and its implementation in Central and Eastern Europe. To protect valuable environmental biomes and, at the same time, to develop and manage an economically and environmentally sustainable framework,a robust set of legislation and implementation tools have to be foreseen,together with a strong involvement of the different stakeholders (including a high public participation) in the decision making process.
The cornerstone for such a framework is the environmental 'acquis' 2 of the European Union. However, as recognised in the Commission's Agenda 2000, full compliance with the environmental acquis will probably only be possible in the long term for all candidate countries in CEE. To promote a realistic, gradual and effective alignment of these countries, Agenda 2000 proposed that a special strategy for the adoption and implementation of the environmental acquis should be set up and combined with a reinforced Community pre-accession assistance strategy, where investment for adoption of the environmental acquis is one of the priorities. 'Acquis'is a French term meaning the existing body of EU legislation to which new member States must adapt their own laws and standards.
These strategies should identify key priority areas and objectives to be fulfilled by the dates of accession as well as timetables for further full compliance; with the objective of seeking to ensure ensuring that the obligations are incorporated within the accession treaties. All new investments should be consistent with the acquis. Annex 3 provides an overview of the major Directives of the EU Environment. The second part of the annex gives the progress of implementing the environmental acquis in six CEE countries accomplished by the end of 1998.
The process of accession will be very costly intensive, especially in the environmental sector where a total investment of 120-150 billion E is estimated. Such investments are anticipated to be 40% for combustion plants, 40% for water and sewage treatment plants and 20% for solid and hazardous waste.
Role of Telematics
Transpositions, implementation and enforcement
are the three basic processes that all of the CEE
countries would have to complete (or at least prove
they are capable of completing) in order to qualify
for membership of the European Community.
Telematics applications are of great value in the area
of implementation and compliance with EC
Directives and White Paper legislation as well as
they allow optimisation of resources, etc.
Total nitrogen oxides (NOx) - average
concentrations between May 1994 and May 1996.
Environmental policies in the accession countries are developing to accord with EU Directives such as Access to Information, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), air and water quality standards, EMAS (Eco-management and Audit Scheme), and various other environmental and information technology issues. Details on the diffe rent EU directives for the environment and White paper legislation are provided by the ENTAG Report,1997 in the section 'Environment and other policies' and by the Area Reports from the Concertation meetings 1996-1998, 1998, in the sections Area 1 and 2. In Annex 3 a short summary of the EU Environmental policy directives is included.
The value of applications in environment telematics is important, helping to provide tools able to meet and monitor specific requirements of EU Directives, and ensuring that decision makers and public have access to environmental information. As an indirect target, the environment telematics applications facilitate the EU accession process for many CEE countries by providing tools to up-date, standardise and interchange environmental data, to help in formulating environmental policy, to give background and support for the implementation and enforcement phase of the legislation.
Additionally, they may be used to inform the public of environmental protection issues, to raise awareness and to improve environmental education among them. The environmental telematics applications are also able to prove objectively the fulfilment of the environmental commitments for accession, by ensuring the control and, indirectly, enforcing the compliance for applying regulatory measures (Dimov & Simpson, 1998). Environment telematics applications can make a significant contribution to achieving a 'real' improvement in environmental conditions.
The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe
