Mobilising resources

Fast Track to Financing Public Transport in the EU New Member States and Candidate Countries was the title of a workshop held by the REC’s Environmental Policy Programme on April 20. The programme included presentations of case studies from Bucharest, Budapest, and Vilnius, as well as site visits to Budapest and Graz to explore options for using EU funds, IFI loans, and private sector investment to finance public transport systems.

Pollution directive reviewed

Transposition of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive was reviewed by senior ministry officials from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro April 15-17 in Pula. The fourth meeting of the Environmental Law Drafting Network of Senior Officials followed the workshop.

Tisza nations unite

National stakeholders gathered in separate meetings in five countries along the Tisza River to discuss cooperation on management of their common watershed. The meetings drew ministries of environment, local authorities, water management firms, research institutes and NGOs. The forums looked at main obstacles and barriers towards transboundary cooperation. Participants reviewed country assessments and regional assessment of policies, laws and institutions dedicated to water management in the Tisza basin.

Lucrative lessons

Environmental Financing: Joining the EU — Lessons Learned and the Way Forward was the theme of a conference for environmental authorities from CEE, SEE, and EECCA countries held in Bratislava in March. Officials discussed lessons learned from acceding countries of the European Union to other regions. CEE new member states and candidate countries are willing and able to share their environmental financing experiences and appreciate the role of the REC in its facilitation.