Toni Popovski, the new Executive Director of the REC, takes a look at some of the key issues and developments that will impact the work of protecting the region's environment The identification of existing trends in environmental protection - and the encouragement of new developments - are vital tasks of the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe. As we look at the future environmental needs of our region, some of the more important trends and developments we can identify include: European Union accession, implementation of the Sixth Environmental Action Programme of EU (6th EAP), environmental reconstruction of South Eastern Europe (SEE) and the need to enliven the business sector as an environmental stakeholder. From a regional perspective, long term thinking and planning in governments of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is driven by a desire to join the EU. Enlargement offers opportunities for CEE countries to improve environmental quality as they implement the EU's environmental acquis. Enlargement is also likely to contribute to the emergence of new environmental problems in the border regions. Further efforts are necessary to ensure full implementation of European Community environmental legislation that reduces trans-boundary pollution. To this end, integration of transport, nature conservation and agricultural policies is essential. The EU's 6th EAP includes inputs from the Candidate Countries about priority topics like: access to EU policy making; growth of transport due to enlargement; protection of habitats; climate change, enlargement, etc. EU enlargement offers a unique opportunity to advance the environmental agenda of the continent. The 6th EAP, which will be in force while some CEE countries join the EU, will help Europe take advantage of this opportunity. In SEE, it is essential to undertake a cooperative regional approach that ensures reconstruction activities are carried out in the most efficient and effective manner. The environmental agenda contributes to the aims of the Stability Pact for SEE, as environmental protection is a relatively politically neutral issue, where common agreement can more easily be found. Environmental matters are becoming more important for the business sector, not only because firms must make environmental investments, but also because a new global market of environmentally related services and technologies is being created. Businesses in the region need more information about environmental management practices and systems. If we can work with the market, incorporating the interests of business and consumer, we can encourage more sustainable production and consumption patterns. Working for the environment on the local community level is becoming increasingly important, because most implementation ultimately occurs on this level, and because true public participation and democratisation can best be ensured locally. Now is the time to examine current systems of governance and to find ways of changing them, to ensure a consistent, common direction for social, economic and environmental objectives. The next ministerial conference in Kiev in 2003, part of the "Environment for Europe" process, is an excellent opportunity to discuss these priority issues and decide on common actions. On the global level, the countries of this region will have to work toward complying with new and existing multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). This means harmonising domestic legislation with the international agreements and setting up regulatory frameworks and funds necessary to implement this legislation. As the countries of the region move toward more transparent government operations, implementation of MEAs will become more effective. New international instruments that are being drafted now will focus on such issues as transport, environment and health, strategic environmental assessment, pollutant release and transfer registers, liability for trans-boundary environmental accidents and environmental aspects of trans-boundary investments. These issues are among those to be addressed at the Rio+10 meeting - the World Summit on Sustainable Development, to be held in Johannesburg next year - which will be one of the most important world gatherings in terms of international cooperation for the environment. Other issues likely to be discusssed are institution strengthening, Local Agenda 21 and ensuring public participation through instruments like the Aarhus Convention.

Toni Popovski: New Executive Director of the REC.