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EU ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENT. EXPERIENCE OF SLOVENIA

EU ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENT. EXPERIENCE OF SLOVENIA. Janez Podobnik Director International ECPD Institute for Sustainable Development, Urban Planning and Environmental Studies. 24 February 2012, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. POINTS TO BE DISCUSSED.

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EU ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENT. EXPERIENCE OF SLOVENIA

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  1. EU ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENT.EXPERIENCE OF SLOVENIA Janez Podobnik Director International ECPD Institute for Sustainable Development, Urban Planning and Environmental Studies 24 February 2012, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

  2. POINTS TO BE DISCUSSED • Adaptation of Slovenian Environmental legislature during the EU Accession period • Environmental situation in Slovenia after (8 years) joining the EU • Conclusions

  3. ABOUT ECPD • Located in Ljubljana, Slovenia – an EU and NATO member state • Established in 2009 • Part of the European Centre for Peace and Development (ECPD) which is a part of the United Nations University for Peace • ECPD has headquarters in Belgrade and an academic council in Paris

  4. ABOUT ICPE • The International Center for Promotion of Enterprises (ICPE) is an intergovernmental organization, with its headquarters in Slovenia set up on a United Nations initiative in 1974  • 18 member countries from Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is an active member as well as our newest member state, Angola • ICPE is mandated to pursue and promote international cooperation in areas related to the transfer of technology, sustainable entrepreneurship and promotion of knowledge-based societal change through research, training, consultancy an information services in these fields • Since the ICPE’s establishment in 1974, many joint projects have been undertaken with regional and national chambers of industry and commerce as well as universities, private and public enterprises and other institutions around the world, including in countries outside the ICPE’s membership.

  5. AUTHOR’S EXPERIENCE WITH INTERNATIONAL (POLITICAL) ACTIVITIES PROFESSONAL CAREER • 1985-1990 – Medical doctor at the ambulance stations in Cerkno and Idrija • 1990-1992 – Mayor of Idrija • 1992-1996 – Member of the first National Assembly of the Republic o Slovenia • 1994 -1998 – Mayor of Cerkno • 1996-2000 – Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia • 2000-2004 – Member of the third National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia • 2000-2004 – Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe • 2002-2004 – Observer in the European Parliament for the Republic of Slovenia • 2004 – Member of the European Parliament • 2004-2008 – Minister for Environment and Spatial Planning in the Government of the Republic of Slovenia • First half of 2008 – President of the European Council of European environment ministers during Slovenia's presidency of the European Council • April 2009 to present – Director of the ECPD International Institute for Sustainable Development, Urban Planning and Environmental Studies in Ljubljana • January 2012 to present – Special advisor to the Director-General of the International Center for Promotion of Enterprises in Ljubljana

  6. COOPERATION BETWEEN ECPD/ICPE AND RCC • Cooperation in common activities with ICPE • ICPE/ECPD – ICAM Conference: Integrated Coastal AreaManagement of the Adriatic/Mediterranean-Black Sea Coastal Areas and the Danube/Sava River Basins,10.-11.november 2010 (active participation by Mag. Miroslav Kukobat, Head of Infrastructure and Energy Unit, Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat) • Visit of Mr Podobnik to the headquarters of RCC in Spring 2010 • Established permanent links • BSF – Bled Strategic Forum (contacts with RCC’s Ms. Jelica Minić, RCC Head of Expert Pool) • Representatives of SECI Vienna

  7. FACTS ABOUT SLOVENIA • Population: 2,050,189 (2011 est.) • GDP per capita: $25,939 -19,653€ (2011 est.) • GDP PPP(purchasing power parity):total: $58.979 billion; per capita- $29,179 – 22,108€ (2011 est.) • 211 Municipalities – 11 of them are Urban Municipalities • New government, elected on 4. December 2011 reduced the number of ministries from 18 to 12 • Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food are now joined into Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment, without Spatial Planning, which is now a part of the Ministry for Infrastructure and Spatial Planning

  8. TIMELINE OF SLOVENIA’S ACCESSION TO EU Source: www.evropa.gov.si

  9. SLOVENIA’S NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EU - ENVIRONMENT • Three key findings on Slovenian pre-EU accession negotiations regarding environment: • The key role of the National Parliament with the transfer of European environmental law to the national environmental legislation (with a special role of the parliamentary committee on environment) Slovenian National Assembly had to adopt 8 laws to harmonize with environmental policies of European Union. • State, local communities, economy and the ordinary citizen already act on the principles of EU environmental legislation before the formal conclusion of negotiations • Environmental policies as development policies since they bring new jobs, new technologies, support sustainable development and social responsibility

  10. SLOVENIA’S NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EU IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENT • Slovenia was the first country among 10 candidate countries to successfully finish negotiations in the field of environment • Slovenia negotiated three transitory periods: • Waste water management (until 2015) • Industrial pollution (until 2011) • Waste packaging management (until 2007) • The key European directive for improvements in Slovenian industrial pollution management is the IPPC – Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control • Slovenia accepted as its obligatory accession commitment the inclusion into Natura2000.

  11. SLOVENIA’S NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EU IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENT - IPCC IPPC – Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control • One of the key EU directives in the field of environment • It introduces integrated environment authorizations and permits, it demands the introduction of best techniques available on prevention of pollution transfer • Slovenia transferred the directive in its law order – Law on protection of environment and the Regulation on activities and facilities that may cause a large-scale environment degradation • Due to very complicated procedure, Slovenia implemented the Directive with more than one year delay (it was also brought into a procedure before the EU Court of Justice in Luxembourg)

  12. SLOVENIA’S NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EU IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENT – NATURA 2000 • NATURA 2000 includes the implementation of two European directives: • Habitats directive • Birds directive • 286 Natura 2000 protection designated areas(36 % of the country – the largest % among EU member states) • Operative Programme on Management of Areas under Natura2000 (2007 – 2013) • Natura2000 entered Slovenian environmental legislation: law on protection of nature, government regulation on designation of protection areas • Active role oflocalcommunities(Sloveniacurrentlyhas 212 localcommunities: Sloveniaestablished a strongmovementofeco-schoolsandeco-kindergardens)

  13. SLOVENIA’S NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EU - ENVIRONMENT • Slovenia’s way for successful environment policy and legislation negotiations with the EU: • Active inclusion of the environmental professionals and the academic sphere(who were part of the negotiating team) • Active involvement of environmental NGOs • Environment as a common point for all political parties in the Parliament

  14. SLOVENIA’S NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EU • The EU’s Acquis Communautaire had to be imported in the Slovenian law framework by the Slovenian Parliament • Slovenia negotiated prolongation of its status as a EU-funds receipt-country • Part of the 4th financial perspective (entry to the EU 2004 until 2006) • the 5th financial perspective (2007-2013) although it surpassed the development criteria • Importance of pre-accession financial instruments • PHARE(1992-2003) 339 mio. EUR • SAPARD (2000-2003) 26 mio. EUR • ISPA(2000-2003) 84 mio. EUR

  15. Pre-accession financial instrument for Environmental issues - ISPA • signed to address environmental and transport infrastructure priorities identified in the Accession Partnerships with the 10 applicant countries of Central and Eastern Europe. • Purpose: enhance economic and social cohesion in the applicant countries of Central & Eastern Europe for the period 2000-2006. • Only financed major environmental and transport infrastructure projects • Comes under the remit of the Directorate General for Regional Policy

  16. SLOVENIA’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES – 8 YEARS AFTER THE EU ACCESSION • Membership in the EU forced Slovenia to act decisively on a wide field of environmentally-oriented issues • Slovenia has wisely and successfully used the European funds for implementation of its environment protection projects • The quality of life in Slovenian cities has improved dramatically • All Slovenian cities - with exception of Nova Gorica – have modern, operating waste treatment plants. • Numerous smaller towns and villages are deciding to construct biological waste treatment plants • More than 90% od Slovenian citizens have access to clean drinking water from public pipelines • The quality of Slovenian rivers and streams has improved due to construction of new waste treatment plants and strict implementation of the IPPC directive • Improved air quality in Slovenian cities (although Slovenia still has problems with PM-10 air particles – due to heavy transport) • More than 50 Mwatts of photovoltaic instalations

  17. SLOVENIA’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AFTER THE ACCESSION TO THE EU • Membership in the environmentally-aware EU has brought Slovenia the need and obligation to SYSTEMATICALLY include the PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT in its management of ECONOMY and SOCIAL RELATIONS. • Membership in the EU has made Slovenia realize that it is necessary to shift away from the race to reach the EU15 European economic indicators • Slovenia has realized it is still one of moderately polluted countries of the EU27, with an exquisite biodiversity – this can be an advantage in the future!

  18. SLOVENIA’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AFTER THE ACCESSION TO THE EU 4.2 billion EUR (EU funds + nationalcontribution)for the period 2007 - 2013 ERDF: 1.76 billion EUR ESF: 755 million EUR ECF: 1.57 billion EUR SLOVENIA IS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN EU FUNDS USAGE

  19. Operational Programme of Environment and Transport Infrastructure Development 2007-2013 - Contractors Municipalities (projects in the field of waste management, waste water treatment, drinking water supply) Ministry of the Environment and Agriculture (projects in the field of flood safety and sustainable use of energy and renewable energy)

  20. Allocation of funds for priority regional development potentials:2007-2013, by regions

  21. SLOVENIA’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AFTER THE ACCESSION TO THE EU EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND Tourism infrastructure of the Škocjan Caves Park Renovation and modernisation of mountain refuges

  22. SLOVENIA’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AFTER THE ACCESSION TO THE EU EUROPEAN COHESION FUND Waste treatment plants in municipalities along the Savinja river Celje regional waste treatment centre Water supply system for the Banjščica plateau

  23. SLOVENIA’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AFTER THE ACCESSION TO THE EU • the EU Commission started 61 procedures against Slovenia due to various breaches of EU legislation and policies in different fields • (waste management, water pollution, industrial pollution, air quality) • Slovenia faced three charges from the EU Court of Justice • Slovenia accepted the new Strategy of Development of Slovenia until 2013 – the strategy emphasizes sustainable development as one of the key priorities of Slovenian development

  24. SLOVENIA’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES SLOVENIA’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS Green=Field of environment, Purple=Economy, Orange=Social Policy

  25. Slovenian Experiences on Climate Change in practice • Platform “Slovenia reduces CO2 “ • In 2010, 6 panel discussions took place live and over the internet at the same time • 2011, expansion of the platform to promote good practices • Launched programme, called “Environmentally Efficient State Administration”

  26. Slovenian Experiences on Climate Change in practice • Environmental measures, including energy accounting, are being introduced in office operations of all governmental bodies • Programme for the introducion of battery powered electric vehicles in Slovenia • Subsidies for purchase of new vehicles, introduction of charging stations to public parking areas, etc.

  27. SLOVENIA’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES Key role of the Ministry for Environment and Spatial Planning and Ministry for Agriculture (in 2012merged in a single Ministry for Environment and Agriculture without jurisdiction for Spatial Planning, which is now a part of Ministry for Infrastructure and Spatial Planning) Guidelines were prepared by the NCSD – The National Council for Sustainable Development IMAD – Institute for Macroeconomic Analysis and Development – monitors the NCSD’s work and results Slovenia’s environmental policies must follow the EU Strategy for Sustainable Development – Slovenia prepared annual national reports EU Directive on renewable energy sources demands from Slovenia to increase its renewable energy source share in electricity production from 30% to 36% Slovenia puts much emphasis on water protection – Slovenia accepted its comprehensive Law on protection of waters in 2002

  28. SLOVENIA’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES • Slovenia heavily promotes the social responsibility of enterprises – UN Global Compact Network Slovenia (includes 37 enterprises) • Societal interest groups: Social partners in the tripartite Social Agreement 2007-2009 defined sustainable development as one of the key areas for future competitiveness of Slovenian economy • Impact of more than 120 NGOs from the field of environment in Slovenia (nation-wide environmental action Let’s Clean Slovenia 2010)

  29. CONCLUSIONS - Questions • Can the EU environmental policy (low-carbon society initiative) remain the key engine of European sustainability concept despite the economic crisis? • Can a responsible and coherent EU policy in the field of climate change mitigation and adaptation survive globally in the ‘’post-Kyoto years’’? • Is it true for the member countries of the RCC that solving environmental problems brings newjobs, new technologies, new knowledge and new connections between countries (such as EU Danube Strategy, International Sava River Basin Agreement, Black Sea Agreement)? • Can environmental topics bring cooperation in the national parliaments, can they increase the interest of the youth for politics? • Can large-scale environmental projects bring interest of international financial institutions and actors?

  30. CONCLUSIONS - Answers • Theapproach to thelow-carbonsocietymustremainfundamental to theEuropeanenvironmentalpoliciesdue to ourresponsibilityforfuturegenerations • Europemustinsist as a globalleader in newenvironmentalpolicyapproachbut not at thepriceoflosingcompetitivenessfromcountriesthat do not adapt (China, India) • The RCC countriescanusethenew EU holisticapproach to thedevelopmentproblems in theregion, whichhasbeenoffered to them in the form ofthenew EU DanubeStrategy • Numerouspracticalcasesandresearchaffirmthatenvironmentaltopicsincreasetheinterestofcitizensforpoliticsandpoliticalissues, especiallyamongtheyoungergenerations • International financialinstitutionstend to stronglysupportlargerinfrastructural, energy, andenvironmentalprojects, with a specialemphasis on sustainableapproach.

  31. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! Janez Podobnik info@ecpd.si Director Special Advisor to Director-General

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