Transfer of knowledge to eastern states identified as key opportunity in coming years Photo: ZSOLT BAUER RUNNING WITH THE PACK: The REC's Robert Atkinson shows off the Green Pack environmental curriculum with help from Kliment Mindjov (seated). The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC)contributed to the preparation of the Environment for Europe ministerial conference in Kiev, May 21-23, 2003. REC experts contributed to the development of nearly all protocols and guide lines adopted by the ministers, including the Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment, the Protocol on Civil Liability and Compensation for Damage Caused by the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents on Transboundary Waters and the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers. In Kiev the REC launched its environmental education multimedia kit, the Green Pack — in line with the event's focus on education for sustainability. The REC held four side events on the topics of civil liability, education for sustainable development, local environmental action programmes and sustainable financing for NGOs. The REC's stand at the conference exhibited and distributed CD ROMs and printed materials to officials and civil society representatives. Recognition for REC The REC welcomed the outcomes of the conference and stands behind the adopted text of the ministerial declaration. This statement recognised the successful implementation of REC's mandates as secretariat of the Central and Eastern European sub-programme of the Environmental Action Programme (EAP) Task Force and of the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe (REReP). The REC presented more than 30 background documents and publications. A CD ROM was produced and presented at the conference entitled "The REC in Kiev." It featured a complete set of materials produced under the CEE sub-programme of the EAP Task Force and the REReP. The REC's overall contribution to the "Environment for Europe" process was recognised in paragraphs 7, 12 and 65 of the Kiev declaration. Paragraph 60 recognised the report on trends in environmental expenditures in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), which the REC prepared in response to the Aarhus Declaration of the ministers. The REC received a mandate to coordinate the transfer of lessons learned from CEE to the countries of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA). REC will be among the leading organisations contributing to the implementation of the EECCA environmental strategy, the Kiev declaration stated. The ministers invited the REC to strengthen the cooperation with the regional environmental centres from the EECCA region in developing a RECs' network. Details about the REC's contribution to Kiev can be found at www.rec.org.

Back to front page Recognition for REC Top Top