Developing Environmental Information Systems in SEE Countries REReP 1.8

1. Developing Environmental Information Systems in SEE CountriesREReP 1.8 JEROME SIMPSON The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe JSimpson@rec.org

2. Presentation Outline • • Introduction/Goals • • Achievements and Progress • • National Action Plans for EIS development • • Case Studies on Electronic Access to Information • • Forthcoming Activities • •Linkages with the E-Tools Task Force

3. • The goal is to assist in improving the management and dissemination of environmental information for the benefit of SEE government institutions and citizens • This will be realised through training workshops, case study sharing & financing, within a regional framework & based on a needs assessment The project aims to support Aarhus Convention implementation, integration into EEA/EIONET, and promotion of online governance. • Project duration: April 2001 - Dec. 2003 (extended) Implementing Agency: REC, in coop. with Croatia (lead country) Introduction

4. Achievements and Progress • • Completed needs assessments & action plans for each territory in SEE • Two workshops to review progress and offer training in data management/dissemination • EUR 310,000 disbursement: equipmt, training, info sources + 24,000 for related expert services • Circulation of Compendium and 12 new case studies on the use of electronic tools to implement Aarhus • Project website at: http://www.rec.org/REC/Programs/REReP/InformationSystems/

5. National Action Plans Based on 5 key categories…. Institutional Setup/Legal Framework/Data Management/Inf. Dissem/ Access to information in policymaking • Al: Training on EIS setup; appx. of EU standards; data collection training; EIS-reporting to key stakeholders • Bg: Upgrading of communications links, equipment; municipality trainings on Aarhus; data processing tools; regional info centres upgrade • BiH: Circa s/w training for inter-entity coop.; equipment upgrades; well-qualified webmaster; training in data management • Kos: Design/development of a monitoring ntwk; training on achieving compliance; data publishing assistance, a public forums for inf. exchange

6. Case Studies on Aarhus Implementation •  Twelve new examples, nine countries (Bg, Ee, No, UK, Cz, At, USA, Sk, Dk) •  Electronic as well as non-electronic examples (Es, Ei, Dk) •  Part of a Compendium of Good Practice, filed article by article •  Encompassing Articles 4-8 •  Accessible online@ www.rec.org/e-aarhus

7. Forthcoming Activities 1) Summary report of the needs assessments and national action plans/case studies (to alert donors to the need for continuing support!) • 2) Workshop: Spring 2003, Bulgaria to: • •  evaluate progress/lessons learned • • validate country priorities and future support actions • •  scope a new 2 yr workplan • •  elect a lead country (if demand exists) • • share regional experiences with the E-Tools Task Force

8. The E-Tools Task Force •  Led by Bulgaria as of Oct. 2002 (with REC, UNEP, Austria) •  Supporting information access and public participation in DM, chiefly through electronic means •  Hosting a workshop for 50, Spring 2003 to discuss needs/ priorities, offer demonstrations and training •  Exchanging and gathering case studies, in hardcopy and online at www.rec.org/e-aarhus •  Preparing recommendations on application of e-tools in framework of convention

9. Summary • • Project Introduction/Goals • • Achievements and Progress • • National Action Plans for EIS development • • Case Studies on Electronic Access to Information • • Forthcoming Activities • • Linkages with the E-Tools Task Force

10. Thank You for your attention!