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Environmental Issues |
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Objective
Untitled Document
The overall objective is to address environmental problems
that threaten the present and future well being of the citizens of South Eastern
Europe. Another important goal is to improve environmental management in the region,
thereby also reinforcing the role of local government and civil society in decision
making.
Description
Untitled Document
Based on this understanding, the idea
of a Regional Environmental Reconstruction Program (RERP) was developed. The
priority areas of the RERP include institution building, regional co-operation,
civil society development and support to priority national/local projects. Another
area in this programme aims at combating war damages in and around the FRY.
Based on a scientific assessment of the environmental consequences of the Kosovo
conflict, carried out by UNEP, a number of projects were worked out to address
the most important issues.
This plan was endorsed by Working Table
II as a basis for further work on environmental issues at its meeting in February
2000. At the same meeting the establishment of the Task Force for the implementation
of the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme for Souteast Europe was
endorsed. The SEE countries, at their ministerial meeting in Skopje in March
2000 agreed to this concept. A Ministerial Consultation on Environmental
Policy-making in Central and Eastern Europe, which took place in Szentendre,
Hungary, on June 19, 2000 recognized the importance of the Stability Pact in
contributing to environmental improvement and sustainable development in South
Eastern Europe. The participants urged donors to support the Stability Pact
Quick Start Package projects within the Regional Environmental Reconstruction
Program (RERP).
Implementation
A Task Force was created to oversee and coordinate the implementation
of the RERP. The Task Force is open to the countries of Southeast Europe, to
the donor community, international organisations, institutions and NGOs. It
is co-chaired by a country of the region, on a rotating basis, and the European
Commission. Macedonia is the Task Force’s present co-chair. The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) in Budapest is acting as the Secretariat of the Task Force.
The Task Force held its first meeting in Cavtat, Croatia on July 4-6, 2000. The meeting succeeded in securing over 8 million Euro for the initial financing of environmental projects within the Quick Start Package. The meeting agreed that national authorities, NGOs and Stability Pact national coordinators will play a key role in the implementation of the projects. The participants also decided to include Kosovo and Montenegro in the environmental reconstruction programme in line with other Stability Pact activities. The second Task Force meeting was held in Brussels on November 9, 2000. The meeting welcomed the participation of the FRY into the Task Force. In order to mainstream environmental concerns into broader economic activities, the meeting decided to include EIB and other International Financial Institutions in future Task Force meetings.
The third meeting of the Task Force took place in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina on 7 September 2001. The participants decided that Bosnia and Herzegobvian would take upo the co-chair of the Task Force replacing Macedonia. The particpants notred that progress was achieved in implementatinbg REREP, notably by the dibursement of funds, which had previously been committed in the context of the Stability Pact Quick Start Package. Participants also discussed a review paper on the REREP mechanism presented by the European Commission. The next meeting of the Task Force will take place in Brussels on 18 and 19 April 2002.
Key Contacts
Mr. Andrew Murphy, EC, Desk Officer
Country: DG Environment, ENV1
Organization: European Commission
Tel: +32 2 295 47 92
Email: andrew.murphy@cec.eu.int
Mr. Gabriele Martignago, Expert Working Table II
Organization: Stability Pact Office
Tel: +32 2 401 87 39
Fax: +32 2 401 87 12
Email: gabriele.martignago@stabilitypact.org
Third REReP Task Force Meeting, Sarajevo, 7 September 2001Second REReP Task Force Meeting, Brussels, November 9, 2000Consultation Meeting of High Officials from the Ministries of Environment of South Eastern Europe, Skopje, January 26-27, 2000REReP Ministerial Meeting, Skopje, March 15-16, 2000First REReP Task Force Meeting, Cavtat, July 6-7, 2000Related Documents
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