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The European context in which SEPA operates Seminar at Kopaonik, 24-05-2005 Johannes Mayer johannes.mayer@umweltbundesamt.at. SEPA is responsible for. Assuring national environmental data co-ordination for Serbia
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The European context in which SEPA operates Seminar at Kopaonik, 24-05-2005 Johannes Mayerjohannes.mayer@umweltbundesamt.at
SEPA is responsible for Assuring national environmental data co-ordination for Serbia preparing national environmental data reporting to international institutions, such as: • European Commission • European Environment Agency • International (UN & other) Conventions
Division of work at European level Member States have much criticised EC for duplicate environmental reporting Very recent agreement on clear thematic division between European institutions: • Air, Water, Biodiversity/Nature: European Environment Agency • Waste: Eurostat (Waste Statistics Regulation) • Soil, Chemicals: Joint Research Center (European Soil Bureau, European Chemicals Bureau ( Agency)
European Commission • European Commission: formally expects national reporting from the time of EU accession (but will ask for „volontary“ submissions in accession period) • Much data reporting handled via the European Environment Agency • Eurostat / Waste Statistics Regulation: Im most MS national counterparts in the Statistical Offices
International Conventions • Reporting related to EC Obligations, where EC is a Convention party: Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution / CLRTAP (EC: National Emission Ceilings Directive) UN Framework Convention Climate Change / UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol (EC: Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Mechanism)
European Environment Agency • Specific status by separate regulation 1210/90/EEC (933/99/EC) • „timely, reliable, relevant, targeted“ data to support EU environmental policies • countries may have full membership status before EU Accession • invites Serbia (& Montenegro) to report as co-operating country (& potential Member State)
European Environment Agency • Strongly integrated with Member States through the EIONET network: National Focal Points (NFP) – co-ordination National Reference Centres (NRCs) – specific thematic expertise European Topic Centres (ETCs) – Consortia of Member State institutions doing substantial thematic work for the EEA in thematic priority areas
Austrian co-operation with EEA • According Environmental Control Act, Umweltbundesamt is responsible for Austrian national co-operation with EEA • Austrian National Focal Point (NFP) • Austrian National Reference Centres (NRCs) • Partner institution in four of the five European Topic Centres (ETCs): Air & Climate Change (focus emission data management), Water (focus groundwater data), Terrestrial Environment, Resources & Waste Management
Priority Data Flow ranking • EEA reports annually the progress of countries in reporting by a ranking of all members and co-operating countries (criteria agreed with Member States) • August 2004 (for 2003, with 32 countries): 1. AT 95%, 2. SE 90%, 3. LV 89%, 10. BG 75 %; 26. FYRoM 50 %, 27. RO 38 %, 29. BIH 34 %; 32. ALB 17 % • Serbia&Montenegro: pilot reporting on 3 data flows (Croatia & Turkey: only 1)
Priority Data Flow areas • Air (Pollutant Emissions as for CLRTAP & UNFCCC Conventions, Air Quality Data as required by EC) • Water (Groundwater, River, Lake Water Quality, Marine & Coastal Waters) • Protected Areas • Not included in overall country scoring:- Corine Landcover Project- Soil Contamination
“Reportnet” Concept Web-based EIONET Infrastructure for transparent documentation of • What is to be reported Reporting Obligations Database (ROD) • Who is responsible for reporting nominated Institutions & Experts EIONET Directory • What has been reported and when National/Central Data Repository (CDR)
“Reportnet” Elements http://www.eionet.eu.int/rn/click
Austrian EC Presidency 2006 • Will support European integration efforts of the Western Balkan countries • Will promote applications for Membership of the European Environment Agency EEA/EIONET Regulation allows EEA Membership before joining EC • Will support adapted (joint or separate) European integration solutions for Serbia & Montenegro
Example EEA/EIONET Directory • Suggested parallel nominations for National Reference Centres for both Republics • Can be used for co-operation to elaborate joint reports for Serbia & Montenegro whenever required • Can at any moment be separated (“unzipped”) to provide independent strings for each Republic
A key role for SEPA • Key role as responsible for national action in a privileged pilot area for European integration in Serbia • Depends from substantial support by data-holding institutions (water, air, nature for “priority data flows”) • Needs adequate support from European institutions and partner countries to achieve full co-operation with EC/EEA
Austrian experience ? • Assure co-operation within and between institutions • Build-up operational expert networks • Focus work on European and national priority requirements • Maintain active working relations with European institutions • Use Reportnet tools