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SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE
Flooding in Poland during the last weeks of July killed 10 people and caused damage estimated at USD 200 million or more, according to reports. Deadly floods in southern Poland were followed by July 30 flooding in the east, which continued despite the clear weather, according to reports by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Reuters.
Apparently swayed by environmental authorities and environmental activists, who feared serious damage to natural areas, animals and even human health, Albanian health authorities did not go through with plans to declare aerial war on mosquitoes and flies, according to a report from the Albanian office of the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe. In early June, just before tourist season began, national newspapers announced that wide-spread aerial pesticide spraying would begin in several areas along the Adriatic Coast. The spraying was to start at at Divjaka and Shengjin - both wetland areas that are close to national parks - and, health officials reportedly said that "strong pesticides were considered to be the most effective pesticide." According to Xhemal Mato, environmental journalist and chairman of the Mass-media and Environment NGO: "The decision to take this action shows once more that our authorities have very low environmental awareness and environmental responsibility." The massive spraying techniques to be used have a negative impact on all biota, directly and indirectly, according to Taulant Bino an ornithologist with the Museum of Natural Sciences of Tirana University. He said the spraying can effect a broad spectrum of insects, not only flies and mosquitoes. Furthermore, Bino said, the rich diversity of amphibian, reptile and bird species living in the area would also be negatively affected - and people living there could suffer ill-health effects. Other experts expressed similar concerns, and apparently the health department listened, as the summer season passed without reports of major spraying.
The Albanian body in charge of environmental protection was upgraded to a ministry in early September, according to a report from the Albanian office of the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe. The decision to upgrade the status of the former National Environmental Agency represents a clear desire to give higher priority to environmental matters, the office reported. The newly formed Albanian government named Ethem Ruka, a 54-year-old biologist and former professor at Tirana University, to be the new Minister of the Environment. Ruka belongs to the Socialist Party.
FYR Macedonia is facing a severe drought that threatens to leave parts of the country without drinking water, according to an Aug. 7 article in the Skopje daily "Dnevnik," which was carried by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. "Last year, we had the most serious drought in the past 30 years, but this year will be even worse," hydrologist Konstantin Ugrinski was quoted as saying. "The level of lakes and rivers is very low, and it is possible that we [will find ourselves] without drinking water. That is why we call on people to use water extremely rationally, only for drinking and washing." A local fire squad burns seven tonnes of waste from the slaughterhouse belonging to the Kostelecke uzeniny meat producer in Dusejov, Czech Republic on June 8. According to the European News Agency, a cow infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or "mad cow disease," was slaughtered in the plant several days earlier. The incidence of BSE was confirmed in a test of the cow's brain sample as the first BSE case in the Czech Republic, the news agency reported. Because it is impossible for the firm's staff to separate waste from individual slaughtered pieces of cattle, they must burn everything together, the agency reported. BSE, which is caused by feeding brains to ruminants, is just one negative side-effect of intensive farming practices, many of which are environmentally unfriendly.
ELSEWHERE AROUND THE REGION
Polish park keepers urged Slovakia not to shoot a young bear that turned aggressive after being fed by tourists, according to an Aug. 21 report from Reuters. National park authorities in Slovakia's Tatra Mountains have threatened to kill the 18-month-old female, which crossed the border between the two countries a month ago and has since attacked five hikers and raided a food store, the report said. Slovak animal rights campaigners have called for the bear to be saved, but Slovak park authorities have said that a rescue operation could be too expensive, the report said. "We don't want to kill the bear, but first of all, no Slovak zoo has offered to take it in. Secondly, an operation to tranquillise the animal and transport it in a cage by helicopter to remote mountain terrain would be too costly." Jozef Kovacz, a Slovak national park safety official, was quoted as saying.
Baltic region environment and transport ministers on Sept. 10 signed a package of measures aimed at preventing pollution in the Baltic Sea, according to a report from Environment News Service (ENS). The ministers agreed that the countries along the Baltic Sea "will not grant exemptions or relax measures already adopted to phase out single hull oil tankers at the earliest date that is possible under International Maritime Organization rules," the report said. "This means that single hull oil tankers will be phased out between 2003 and 2015, depending on the age and type of the vessel." Among the other stipulations is a recommendation for pilots on all ships of 11 metres or more, a proposal for detailed mapping out of routing systems and traffic separation plans and proposals for using more modern navigation technologies, according to the ENS report.
EU ACCESSION
Lithuania has changed its position in European Union accession talks, and will not ask for a grace period to phase in a tax increase on diesel fuel, Petras Austrevicius, Lithuania's chief negotiator with the European Union, said on Sept. 7, according to a report from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE). Diesel fuel is sometimes seen by drivers as a cheap alternative to petrol, but diesel also causes much more pollution than petrol. Because of Lithuania's low taxes on diesel, the fuel's price is generally lower there than in other European countries, RFE reported.
A report on Romania's progress toward being considered for European Union accession contained criticism of the country's performance in the areas of environment and agriculture, Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty (RFE) said on Sept. 5. The report, presented Sept. 4 by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, found that environmental protection efforts have serious deficiencies and there have been no advances in agriculture reform, RFE said. The report was also critical of Romania's progress on judiciary independence, preventing corruption and providing information, according to RFE. On the plus side, the report saw "positive signals" in economic performance, the situation of abandoned children and other areas, RFE said.
NUCLEAR
European Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen questioned the European Parliament's calls to hold an international conference to discuss the idea of scrapping the Czech nuclear power plant at Temilin, according to a Sept. 11 report from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE). Verheugen said the Czech refusal to participate in the conference would make it meaningless, but added that he would discuss the parliament's request for a conference with his fellow commissioners, before the European Commission responds to the idea, according to the report. Verheugen also reportedly urged the Czechs to meet as soon as possible with the Austrians, the most vocal opponents of the plant. |
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SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE 10 killed as Poland is ravaged by floods Albania avoids aerial spraying Albania has new environment ministry FYR Macedonia faces worst drought in 30 years ELSEWHERE AROUND THE REGION Polish officials fear stray bear may be shot in Slovakia Baltic
ministers OK anti-pollution rules EU ACCESSION Lithuania set to raise diesel taxes earlier Report:
Romania's progress is slow NUCLEAR |
     
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