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Current Environmental Cooperation Framework between EU and SEE countries

Future Regional Environmental Co-operation with the Candidate and Potential Candidate Countries Claude ROUAM Head of Unit for Enlargement and Neighbouring Countries, DG ENV REReP TF Brussels, 27 November 2007. Current Environmental Cooperation Framework between EU and SEE countries.

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Current Environmental Cooperation Framework between EU and SEE countries

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  1. Future Regional Environmental Co-operation with the Candidate and Potential Candidate CountriesClaude ROUAMHead of Unit for Enlargement and Neighbouring Countries, DG ENVREReP TFBrussels, 27 November 2007

  2. Current Environmental Cooperation Framework between EU and SEE countries Two main components: • Bilateral cooperation • Regional cooperation

  3. Bilateral cooperation – SAP • Launched in 1999 for the SEE countries • Assists countries in aligning with EU acquis • Covers Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Serbia, including Kosovo (under resolution 1244 of the United Nations Security Council) • Draws from the experience of enlargement

  4. Regional cooperation • Complements the bilateral dialogues in the accession process • Its importance is highlighted in the SAP, as contributing to the political stability, the security and economic development of the region

  5. Current regional environmental cooperation At ministerial level: • Occasional ministerial meetings At working level: • REReP (since 1999) Other networks: • ECENA…

  6. NEW environmental regional cooperation – WHY? • Shift from a post conflict reconstruction context to a strengthened EU accession context • Necessity to involve all candidate and potential candidate countries, including Turkey

  7. New structure – a two-tier process • At ministerial level Revitalize regular ministerial meetings • At working level Implement concrete activities • A wide range of participants • Candidate and potential Candidate Countries • Participation of RO, BG welcome as mentors • Other Member states when appropriate • Stakeholders: IFIs, Civil Society…

  8. At ministerial level • Bi-annual meetings • Increased political commitment to transposition and implementation of EU environment policy in the framework of accession preparations • Steering cooperation at working level

  9. At working level: RENA Objectives: • To facilitate the transfer and exchange of experience on environment in a Pre-Accession context. • To develop Concrete activities: including capacity building workshops, seminars, training, pilot projects, etc.

  10. Proposed focus of activities • Strategic planning of the pre-accession process • Public Participation: EIA, SEA, Espoo and Aarhus Conventions, etc. • Climate change: technical assistance for inventory of gas emissions, capacity building for administrative structures… • Cross Border Co-operation: Natura 2000 preparations, Water Framework directive, etc. • Preparation of environmental investment projects • Avoiding overlap with other regional activities (ECENA, DABLAS)

  11. Regional Environmental Cooperation - Financial aspects • Until 2009, current regional activities in the SEE financed under CARDS 2005 (support to REReP) • From 2009 onwards, IPA (Instrument for Pre-Accession) finance to be considered

  12. Conclusions • This new framework for Regional Cooperation is intended to be an important driver of the accession process • We welcome feedback on the proposed actions – road map will be circulated amongst the countries for comments • We very much rely on your active support to make this initiative a full success

  13. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION !

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