Southeastern network follows EU recommendations to beef up environmental enforcementanet By Mihail Dimovski Illustration: LASZLO FALVAY SMOKE DETECTOR: Professional and well-equipped, with a strict bearing and open eyes the ideal BERCEN environmental inspector. As part of the work to stabilise South Eastern Europe following the wars of the past decade, the European Commission has supported efforts to modernise environmental inspectorates. Key to this initiative has been the Balkan Environmental Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement Network (BERCEN), involving the countries of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro and FYR Macedonia. At the network's first plenary session, held in Budapest in September, the network unanimously adopted two recommendations. The first was related to the preparations for introduction of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC)Directive in the BERCEN countries. The second was for the European Parliament to set minimum criteria for environmental inspections. The recommendations were developed in line with the commitment of the BERCEN countries to the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP), which is the European Union's (EU)key policy to draw these countries closer to EU integration. The approximation of the environmental legal systems in South Eastern Europe to those of the EU is a priority of SAP. The recommendations don'st legally bind BERCEN countries, but they guide the setting of national policies for environmental enforcement and compliance. The first recommendation addresses the need for preparatory activities ahead of the introduction of the IPPC Directive in national permitting systems. It emphasises that IPPC aims to reduce the environmental impact of the largest industrial installations via reduction of pollution and promotion of cooperation with different stakeholders. Following the approach of EU member countries and candidate countries, the BERCEN states decided to use the standardised reporting on these preparatory activities by adopting the IPPC Directive questionnaire. The second recommendation, regarding the establishment of minimum criteria, is to lay the groundwork for harmonising the principles and operations of the inspectorates. The recommendation advises adoption of common methodology for key data collection and processing. Realistic picture The recommendation is based on a realistic picture of the status of environmental inspectorates in South Eastern Europe and contributes to addressing the needs of the SAP countries in an efficient and consistent way. The BERCEN countries agreed to have standardised reporting on the implementation of the recommendation. The reporting of the BERCEN countries will be based on the guidance of the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL). The BERCEN member countries consider such standardised reporting as a powerful tool for measuring progress, addressing common problems and needs and exchanging experience with IMPEL member countries and the EC. The adopted policy instruments express the commitment and the willingness of the BERCEN states to improve environmental enforcement and compliance. However, most of the countries are having serious difficulties in developing their environmental inspection systems and need substantial support in doing so. The BERCEN Secretariat must mobilise resources in order to assist these countries in the implementation of the recommendations and preparation of the reports. For more information visit the Balkan Environmental Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement Network (BERCEN) or contact Mihail Dimovski at mdimovski@rec.org. - Mihail Dimovski is a project manager of the REC's Environmental Policy Programme.

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