EU Environment Policy for Eastern Europe

1. Anne Burrill Deputy Head of Unit �Enlargement and Neighbouring Countries� DG Environment European Commission EU Environment Policyfor Eastern Europe

2. To help partner countries move towards the standards and principles of EU environment policy, including the integration of environment into sectoral policies Overall EU Policy Objective

3. EU Environment Policy Rooted in the EU Treaty (article 174) Based on precautionary principle, prevention at source and polluter pays principles Promotion of Sustainable Development and Integration of environmental policy (Art 6 of EC treaty) Overarching principles of environmental protection SD: Include social and economic dimensions in addition to environment Economic growth in not in contradiction with environmental development At the G�teburg European Council in 2001, an EU strategy on SD was agreed by adding an environmental dimension to the Lisbon strategy. Main objective: to contribute to growth while at the same time improving the environment and protecting natural resources. An ambitious and comprehensive renewed SD strategy was adopted in June 2006. Environmental integration means making sure that environmental concerns are fully considered in the decisions and activities of other sectors. Since 1997, it is a requirement under the EC Treaty. Article 6 of the Treaty states that� "environmental protection requirements must be integrated into the definition and implementation of the Community policies [.] in particular with a view to promoting sustainable development". The importance of integration is reaffirmed in the Sixth Environment Action Programme which stipulates that "integration of environmental concerns into other policies must be deepened" in order to move towards sustainable development. Integration areas: Agriculture Cohesion Policy Development Employment Energy Enterprise Fisheries Internal Market Research Trade and External Relations TransportEconomic and Financial Affairs The Cardiff Process This is the name given to the process launched by European heads of state and government (The European Council) at their meeting in Cardiff, in June 1998,�requiring different Council formations to integrate environmental considerations into their respective activities, putting article 6 of the EC Treaty into practice. The Cardiff process has contributed to raising the political profile of integration, the latter now being regularly discussed at the highest political level. The Cardiff process has also generated a sense of ownership of environmental integration in some Council formations with positive knock-on effects on actions in other EU institutions and Member States.Overarching principles of environmental protection SD: Include social and economic dimensions in addition to environment Economic growth in not in contradiction with environmental development At the G�teburg European Council in 2001, an EU strategy on SD was agreed by adding an environmental dimension to the Lisbon strategy. Main objective: to contribute to growth while at the same time improving the environment and protecting natural resources. An ambitious and comprehensive renewed SD strategy was adopted in June 2006. Environmental integration means making sure that environmental concerns are fully considered in the decisions and activities of other sectors. Since 1997, it is a requirement under the EC Treaty. Article 6 of the Treaty states that� "environmental protection requirements must be integrated into the definition and implementation of the Community policies [.] in particular with a view to promoting sustainable development". The importance of integration is reaffirmed in the Sixth Environment Action Programme which stipulates that "integration of environmental concerns into other policies must be deepened" in order to move towards sustainable development. Integration areas: Agriculture Cohesion Policy Development Employment Energy Enterprise Fisheries Internal Market Research Trade and External Relations TransportEconomic and Financial Affairs The Cardiff Process This is the name given to the process launched by European heads of state and government (The European Council) at their meeting in Cardiff, in June 1998,�requiring different Council formations to integrate environmental considerations into their respective activities, putting article 6 of the EC Treaty into practice. The Cardiff process has contributed to raising the political profile of integration, the latter now being regularly discussed at the highest political level. The Cardiff process has also generated a sense of ownership of environmental integration in some Council formations with positive knock-on effects on actions in other EU institutions and Member States.

4. EU Environment Policy Sectors �Horizontal� Legislation Nature Protection Water Air Quality Noise Waste Industrial Pollution Chemicals GMOs

5. 6th Environment Action Programme (2002-2012) Four priority actions Climate Change Nature and Biodiversity Environment and Health and Quality of Life Natural Resources and Waste and Climate change: Objective - to stabilise the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases at a level that will not cause unnatural variations of the earth's climate. Nature and Bio-diversity - protecting a unique resource Objective - to protect and restore the functioning of natural systems and halt the loss of bio-diversity in the European Union and globally. To protect soils against erosion and pollution. Environment and Health Objective - to achieve a quality of the environment where the levels of man - made contaminants, including different types of radiation, do not give rise to significant impacts on or risks to human health. There is increasing realisation, and evidence, that human health is affected by environmental problems related to air and water pollution, dangerous chemicals and noise. Sustainable use of natural resources and management of wastes Objective - to ensure the consumption of renewable and non-renewable resources does not exceed the carrying capacity of the environment. To achieve a de-coupling of resource use from economic growth through significantly improved resource efficiency, dematerialisation of the economy, and waste prevention.Climate change: Objective - to stabilise the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases at a level that will not cause unnatural variations of the earth's climate. Nature and Bio-diversity - protecting a unique resource Objective - to protect and restore the functioning of natural systems and halt the loss of bio-diversity in the European Union and globally. To protect soils against erosion and pollution. Environment and Health Objective - to achieve a quality of the environment where the levels of man - made contaminants, including different types of radiation, do not give rise to significant impacts on or risks to human health. There is increasing realisation, and evidence, that human health is affected by environmental problems related to air and water pollution, dangerous chemicals and noise. Sustainable use of natural resources and management of wastes Objective - to ensure the consumption of renewable and non-renewable resources does not exceed the carrying capacity of the environment. To achieve a de-coupling of resource use from economic growth through significantly improved resource efficiency, dematerialisation of the economy, and waste prevention.

6. 6th Environment Action Programme  Seven Thematic Strategies Air Pollution, Waste Prevention and Recycling, Protection and Conservation of the Marine Environment, Soil, Pesticides, Sustainable Use of Resources and Urban Environment Create a stable policy framework (+/-2020) Identify the most appropriate instruments to deliver policy objectives Simplify and clarify existing legislation and propose proportionate new laws if necessary

7. Different neighbours, different relations EFTA / EEA Candidate Countries (Croatia, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey) �Potential candidates� (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo under UNSCR 1244) � Stabilisation and Association process European Neighbourhood Policy (EECCA countries & Mediterranean partners) Foreign Policy Context

9. The ENP partners are: The immediate neighbours of the enlarged EU � � but not countries with accession perspective (Turkey, Balkans) Israel, Jordan, Moldova, Morocco, the occupied Palestinian territory, Tunisia, Ukraine (ENP Action Plans in force since 2005), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia (ENP Action Plans since 2006), Lebanon and Egypt (ENP Action Plans since 2007) Algeria (Association Agreement only in force since late 2005) Belarus, Libya, Syria (no Agreements in force) Not Russia, with whom EU has Strategic Partnership (next page)

10. Russian Federation Strategic Partnership based on 4 �common spaces� for which Road Maps were agreed in May 2005 Economic Common Space (incl. environment and energy) � to promote integration via market opening, regulatory convergence, trade facilitation, infrastructure The Permanent Partnership Council on Environment (Helsinki, October 2006) launched an EU-Russia Environmental Dialogue with expert groups on: Convergence of Environmental Policies (also covers EIA policy issues) Climate Change � coordinated with the Thematic Group on Energy-Efficiency under EU-RU Energy Dialogue. Water and Marine Issues Biodiversity & Nature Protection Forestry Law Enforcement, Governance & Conservation Clean Production & Pollution Prevention. Russian Regional Environment Centre

11. Central Asian Republics Not included in the ENP Bilateral Agreements European Union and Central Asia: Strategy for a New Partnership (June 2007) � increased EU interest in the region Environmental cooperation priority: water management

12. Main objectives of the ENP Good governance, based on: Rule of law, human rights, democratic process Sound macro-economic management, market economy and sustainable development Sectoral reforms, institutional capacity Joint response to common challenges e.g. prosperity gaps, migration, crime, environment, public health, terrorism ... Strategic goal: mutual prosperity, stability, security

13. ENP Fundamentals A comprehensive policy � across all Community and Union policy competencies; support of all EU Institutions Distinct from EU enlargement (but does not prejudge further development of relations with the EU) Rewards progress (positive and inherent conditionality as well as targeted support under Governance Facility)

14. ENP keywords Key EU foreign policy priority Working together � supporting partners� own reform processes (political, economic, social �) Building upon and strengthening existing relations

15. Development of the ENP

16. How does it work? Using relevant EU experience in how to support transition and sequence reforms e.g. �twinning� officials � Gradual convergence with the acquis communautaire in relevant areas Socialisation, �soft power�, long-haul policy

17. Convergence with EU environment policy Transposition � alignment of national legislation with EU environmental legislation Implementation � alignment of practices and providing the institutions and budgets necessary to implement the laws and regulations Enforcement � ability to sanction non compliance with environmental legislation

18. Challenges Legal challenge: Large volume of EU environmental legislation -- about 300 legal acts, including 80 main directives plus International agreements, to which Community is a Party Institutional challenge: Administrative structures and coordination mechanisms at all levels Effective inspection and enforcement bodies Procedures established, including for public consultations (EIA, strategies, programmes, plans, transboundary consultations, etc.) Financial challenge: High costs for compliance, especially for heavy-investments directives

19. Why should neighbours want to align with EU environment policy? Included in ENP Action Plans Countries harbour hopes for closer relations with the EU European Environment Principles -- signed by five European IFIs Inherent benefits

20. ENP Action Plans The key operational instruments Political documents Individualised / tailor-made / country specific Jointly defined political & economic reform priorities & agenda Short & medium-term priorities (3-5 years) Serve as guidance for assistance programming and for others (e.g. IFIs)

21. Environment in the ENP Action Plans � an example Environment Chapter of the Moldova ENP Action Plan: ��take steps to ensure that conditions for good environmental governance are set and start implementing them�� ��take active action for prevention of deterioration of the environment, protection of human health, and achievement of national use of natural resources, in line with the commitments of Johannesburg summit�� ��enhance cooperation on environmental issues�� ***************** Good environmental governance: Strengthen administrative structures Establish procedures facilitating Aarhus implementation Prepare regular reports on the state of the environment Strengthen structures and procedures to carry out environmental impact assessment Improve communication, education and support civil society

22. Environment in the ENP Action Plans � example (cont) Prevention of deterioration of the environment: Continue with the adoption of legislation for key environmental sectors (water, waste, air, industrial pollutions) Enhance administrative capacity (including for issuing of permits, enforcement and inspection) Develop specific programmes and plans (water, waste, air, industrial pollution, notably liquid waste and persistent organic pollutants Enhance cooperation on environmental issues: Implementation of Kyoto and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Active participation in DABLAS and the ECCAA component of the EUWI Identification of possibilities of enhanced regional cooperation with neighbouring countries Possible participation in selected EEA activities Strengthening of administrative capacities for implementation of regional/international agreements

23. ENP & Regional Cooperation Reinforcing existing regional / sub-regional cooperation and providing framework for its development Developing cross-border cooperation, involving local and regional authorities (and e.g. Euroregions), as well as non-governmental actors Regional organisations can bring added value by transferring experience and know-how, helping with capacity-building and contacts, supporting cooperation among grass-roots organisations on wide range of issues Ensure complementarity, coherence, coordination East: Black Sea Synergy North: Northern Dimension

24. Black Sea Synergy� Commission Communication ��Black Sea Synergy�� supported by the Council (14 May 2007) aims to complement existing policies and approaches focus political attention at regional level invigorate existing processes (Black Sea Convention) EU interest after accession of BG & RO Active involvement of countries and regional bodies including through financing Inter-regional character, connections to the Caspian, Central Asia and South-Eastern Europe.

25. Environment for Europe Process Established in 1991 (divided Europe) Kiev meeting 2003 -> EECCA environment strategy Belgrade meeting 2007 -> reform of the EfE process (target spring 2009) Future Commission cooperation with EfE: Implementation of existing UNECE environmental conventions, Contributing to UNECE Environmental Performance Reviews, Facilitating and supporting the EECCA Regional Environmental Centres Participating in selected sub-regional initiatives, particularly those focussed on Central Asia. Contributing, with EU Member States, to improvement of the water sector in the EECCA region through EU Water Initiative (EUWI).

26. EECCA Regional Environmental Centres (RECs)

27. EC financial support Before 2007 2000-06: TACIS �2.3 bn (plus ENV budget) Plus EIB lending (�600m Eastern Europe) Cross-border cooperation 2004-6 by �Neighbourhood Programmes�

28. European Neighbourhood & Partnership Instrument (ENPI) 2007-2013 Almost �12bn (+32% increase in �real terms�) � whole ENPI region, all sectors - �1.65 billion committed in 2007. (The annual cost to the EU budget amounts to just over �3 per EU citizen.) Flexible, policy-driven instrument - Supporting priorities agreed in the ENP Action Plans Simplified approach for cross-border co-operation

29. ENPI programmes

30. Beneficiaries of the ENPI

31. Main types of measures

32. Participation in ENPI contracts& tenders 

33. Allocation of funds by programme

34. Allocation mechanism (cont.)

35. The programming process

36. Two new facilities under ENPI (2007 � 2010)

37. CBC Programmes under ENPI

38. CBC�s land border & sea crossing programmes

39. CBC�s sea basin programmes

40. Environment issues in 2007-2010 ENPI programmes

42. EIB Lending for the ENP-East region & Russia

43. Progress reports on ENP implementation, 3 April 2008

44. Cooperation with Other Actors for Environment policy development in EECCA countries

45. Useful Links: ENP: ec.europa.eu/comm/world/enp Central Asia Strategy:consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/ librairie/PDF/EU_CtrlAsia_EN-RU.pdf DG ENV - Enlargement & Neighbouring Countries: ec.europa.eu/environment/enlarg/index_en.htm