The Bulletin 5/3: RECkoning Sofia

S O F I A  R E P O R T

RECkoning Sofia

The Regional Environmental Center and the EFE process, of which the Sofia conference is a part, have been walking the road to a sustainable Europe together, linked by their mutual goals - developing civil society based on market-oriented economic reforms while improving the state of the environment in CEE.

The Sofia Ministerial Conference addressed a number of issues, including the role of businesses in environmental protection, financing environmental protection, reducing pollution levels and biodiversity. One of the key issues was the relationship between public participation and sustainable development, all within the framework of a Europe-wide environmental program. Here's how the REC supported the "Environment for Europe" gathering in Sofia:

supported NGO preparation for both the ministerial conference and the "parallel" conference held before and during the ministerial gathering.
conducted a feasibility study that assessed the need for a REC-like environmental organization in the NIS. It was presented as an official background document, and prompted both donor and recipient countries to sign a statement in support of the NREC project.
developed the Business Information Service to build the capacity of local businesses to solve environmental problems, and presented the findings of its new market survey report during a parallel seminar on "Businesses, Industry and the Environment."
conducted a survey on the status of public participation in CEE, which was also presented at a parallel seminar.
distributed 3,300 complimentary copies of Europe's Environment - The Dobris Assessment to libraries, media organizations and environmental NGOS.

But the road is a long one that does not end in Sofia. In 1998, the EFE process will move to Copenhagen, and the early indications are that public participation and NGO involvement will be at the top of the agenda.

New and ongoing programs will continue to supply much-needed information on the factors that affect sustainable development in CEE, and assist in institution-strengthening and capacity-building throughout the region. More specifically, the REC will continue with its extensive public participation initiative and assist CEE countries to have a stronger role in the process. It will also assist CEE governments to cooperate with both the public sector and the business community to develop effective environmental strategies, and assist businesses to adopt environmentally sound practices.

THE BULLETIN * AUTUMN 1995