REC: The Bulletin 8/2: REC receives new mandate at Aarhus

R E C   N E W S

REC receives new mandate at Aarhus

The Aarhus conference provided an excellent opportunity for the REC to demonstrate its abilities in helping solve the environmental problems of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). As a result, the REC gained an even more crucial role in the process.

AARHUS conference "The REC graduated at Aarhus," said REC Executive Director Jernej Stritih. "It has grown up from being a donor assistance program to one actually serving the Environment for Europe process." He added that the expanded role was a rite of passage for the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC). But it was a graduation that did not happen overnight.

The REC had been preparing for Aarhus since the 1995 environment ministers' conference in Sofia, where it became Secretariat for the four Sofia Initiatives. At Aarhus itself, the REC was involved in numerous activities, such as hosting NGOs and government leaders, including a lunch for CEE environment ministers where governmental and financial support for the REC was expressed. The REC also produced publications (see box below) which were among the REC's most visible contributions to the Aarhus conference. In all, the REC produced 12 publications — including seven that related to the Sofia Initiatives and four comprising an exhaustive survey of the state of public participation in environmental decision-making throughout Europe.

THE REC'S INFO BOOTH AND FREE PUBLICATIONS were a popular destination, next to the main conference doors.

Bedrich Moldan, chairman of the REC's Board of Directors, chaired the NGO Session of the conference which brought together NGOs and ministers for a discussion of the international Public Participation Convention, signed by ministers the next day. The REC also assisted in building bridges between government and business on environmental issues, having organised the Business and Environment Session held the second day of the conference.

Perhaps most significant for the future of the REC, the Ministerial Declaration released at the end of the conference gave special mention of the REC at several points, including calling for a new and expanded mandate for the Center. The Declaration recognised the REC as "an independent body of international character" adding that it "provides a significant capacity to assist in solving environmental problems of the CEE region through cooperation among government, NGOs and business, promotion of free access to information and public participation in environmental decision-making." It also urged signatory countries to "actively support the work of the Center."

Further, the Declaration stated that "the REC in Szentendre shall overall assume a greater role in the Environment for Europe process and specifically work on the activities of the EAP (Environmental Action Plan) Task Force in CEE countries." The EAP Task Force Secretariat will be shared with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) which will assume greater responsibilities in guiding the EAP in the Newly Independent States.

Preliminary meetings between the two partner organisations were held in early July near Szentendre to jointly create a draft work plan for the future of the Task Force. According to the draft plan, the program will focus on environmental policy effectiveness, environmental financing and environmental management in enterprises.

Within these areas of focus, the REC will take the lead in the CEE countries in implementing the work on policy harmonisation and implementation, funding environmental strategies and environmental management in enterprises.

REC PUBLICATIONS
The REC's 12 publications produced for Aarhus
SOFIA INITIATIVE ON LOCAL AIR QUALITY Phase-out of Leaded Gasoline, Synthesis Report. Existing policies related to the phase-out of lead in gasoline. Reduction of SO₂ and Particulate Emission, Synthesis Report. Current policies and approaches to the reduction of sulphur oxides and particulate matter pollution. SOFIA INITIATIVE ON BIODIVERSITY Conclusions, Second Regional Workshop on EU Accession — Opportunity or Threat to Biodiversity in Central and Eastern Europe. Summary Report. Summarises the main activities of the initiative and outlines a number of priority areas of work after Aarhus. SOFIA INITIATIVE ON ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS Report on the Use of Economic Instruments for Environmental Policy in Central and Eastern Europe. This report draws on data and analysis from local experts on the use of economic instruments in 14 CEE countries compiled in the Sourcebook on Economic Instruments (publication forthcoming). SOFIA INITIATIVE ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT Summary Report. Policy Recommendations on the Use of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in Central and Eastern Europe and in Newly Independent States. SEA is a process that helps governments to assess the environmental impacts of proposed development policies and programs.	DOORS TO DEMOCRACY SERIES Doors to Democracy: Current Trends and Practices in Public Participation in Environmental Decisionmaking in Central and Eastern Europe. Fifteen CEE countries. Doors to Democracy: Current Trends and Practices in Public Participation in Environmental Decisionmaking in the Newly Independent States. Five NIS countries. Doors to Democracy: Current Trends and Practices in Public Participation in Environmental Decisionmaking in Western Europe. Eleven West European countries. Doors to Democracy: A Pan-European Assessment of Current Trends and Practices in Public Participation in Environmental Matters. Overview of the main public participation issues covered in the Doors to Democracy series. REC/UNEP REPORT Report on the Status of Multilateral Environmental Agreements in the European Region. A joint publication of the REC and UNEP, this report evaluates the level of implementation of the 22 most significant international environmental agreements in Western, Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Contact Mark Berman (41-22) 979-9395. For more information on REC publications, contact Emese Gál.

REC PUBLICATIONS

The REC's 12 publications produced for Aarhus

SOFIA INITIATIVE ON LOCAL AIR QUALITY

Phase-out of Leaded Gasoline, Synthesis Report.
Existing policies related to the phase-out of lead in gasoline.
Reduction of SO₂ and Particulate Emission, Synthesis Report.
Current policies and approaches to the reduction of sulphur oxides and particulate matter pollution.

SOFIA INITIATIVE ON BIODIVERSITY

Conclusions, Second Regional Workshop on EU Accession — Opportunity or Threat to Biodiversity in Central and Eastern Europe.
Summary Report.
Summarises the main activities of the initiative and outlines a number of priority areas of work after Aarhus.

SOFIA INITIATIVE ON ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS

Report on the Use of Economic Instruments for Environmental Policy in Central and Eastern Europe.
This report draws on data and analysis from local experts on the use of economic instruments in 14 CEE countries compiled in the Sourcebook on Economic Instruments (publication forthcoming).

SOFIA INITIATIVE ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Summary Report.
Policy Recommendations on the Use of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in Central and Eastern Europe and in Newly Independent States.
SEA is a process that helps governments to assess the environmental impacts of proposed development policies and programs.

DOORS TO DEMOCRACY SERIES

Doors to Democracy: Current Trends and Practices in Public Participation in Environmental Decisionmaking in Central and Eastern Europe.
Fifteen CEE countries.
Doors to Democracy: Current Trends and Practices in Public Participation in Environmental Decisionmaking in the Newly Independent States.
Five NIS countries.
Doors to Democracy: Current Trends and Practices in Public Participation in Environmental Decisionmaking in Western Europe.
Eleven West European countries.
Doors to Democracy: A Pan-European Assessment of Current Trends and Practices in Public Participation in Environmental Matters. Overview of the main public participation issues covered in the Doors to Democracy series.

REC/UNEP REPORT

Report on the Status of Multilateral Environmental Agreements in the European Region.
A joint publication of the REC and UNEP, this report evaluates the level of implementation of the 22 most significant international environmental agreements in Western, Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Contact Mark Berman (41-22) 979-9395.

For more information on REC publications, contact Emese Gál.

REC * PUBLICATIONS * THE BULLETIN * SUMMER 1998