G E N E R A L  A S S E M B L Y

  Bedrich Moldan, Chairman of the Board, hailed the decisions as a "finalization in the transition of the REC." A number of changes have been introduced at the organization in the past year including the appointment of Jernej Stritih as executive director and the signing of a new Charter at the June 1996 General Assembly meeting. The new Charter refined the structure of the organization, called for a new procedure to elect Board members and provided for the Center's new status as an international organization in Hungary.

  Five Board members were re-elected and three new members were added. In addition to expanding the number of members, the nominees are now subject to official elections by the signatory countries. The board may include up to nine members who serve for three-year terms. The current eight members represent, for the first time, a balance between donor and beneficiary countries.

NEW FACES ON THE BOARD KATHARINA KUMMER DANA NICOLESCU MIECZYSLAW OSTOJSKI

REC BOARD MEMBERS Tom Garvey (European Union) Deputy Director General, European Commission, DG XI Katharina Kummer (Switzerland) Senior Program Officer, Federal Office of Environment, Forests and Landscape Frank Loy (USA) Vice Chair, Environmental Defense Fund League of Conservation Voters Bedrich Moldan (Czech Republic) Director, Charles University Environmental Center Dana Nicolescu (Romania) Director, Opportunity Associates Romania Mieczyslaw Ostojski (Poland) Director, Department of International Cooperation Ministry of Environmental Protection, Natural Resources and Forestry Toyojiro Soejima (Japan) Minister, Embassy of Japan Istvan Tokes (Hungary) Special Adviser Ministry for Environment and Regional Policy

  The shift in balance towards countries of the region was further marked by the election of Allan Gromov, Director General of Environmental Policy and International Relations at the Estonian Ministry of Environment, as President of the General Assembly. This is the first time that the REC has had a President from one of the beneficiary countries. Robert De Bauw, who served in the position since its inception, announced his decision to retire from the Assembly in June last year and expressed confidence in Gromov as the "best choice" for his successor. De Bauw was warmly applauded as he stepped down and was honored for his many years of dedication to the Center.

  Further business at this session included the presentation of a new strategy plan for the Center. "Central and Eastern Europe is a dynamic and rapidly changing region and the scope of work for the REC is changing with it," said Stritih in his introduction of the plan. New strategic objectives outlined included programs to support the transition process, the accession of CEE countries to the European Union and sustainable development. The new strategy also introduces a multi-stakeholder approach to the REC's project planning which will involve and be relevant not only to nongovernment organizations, but also governments and the business community; an improved project management system to ensure quality of projects and services; a new organizational structure; and revised financial procedures and fundraising efforts to better provide for the financial sustainability of the Center. (see REC's roadmap to the next millenium or the REC paper Strategy 1997-2000 for more details)

  According to Board Member Tom Garvey, the expanded endeavor to address other stakeholders will allow the REC to become more fully and broadly involved in sustainable development in the region. "The REC could be the first example of genuine regional cooperation," he said. "The challenge will be to address services to businesses and government but to maintain the commitment to public participation and democracy."