Brussels, 06/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - The year 2000 will be a crucial year for the "environment" aspect of the Union's enlargement process in that it will mark the beginning of negotiations on the environmental chapter with applicant countries. The latter may count on the Commission's backing to perfect their environment strategy before mid-2000, but they are urged to begin immediately in implementing the whole of the programme for bringing their legislation into line with acquis communautaire. Mrs Margot Wallström, European Environment Commissioner, did not fail to remind environment ministers from applicant countries of this during the last informal meeting in Brussels - the fifth of its kind - devoted to environmental aspects of the enlargement process (see EUROPE of 25 November last, p.12). We give below the main conclusions of this meeting:
Adoption of environmental acquis. The transposition and the full and complete implementation of acquis communautaire in the field of the environment is a precondition for joining the Union. The progress made by the applicant countries in this matter is slow, and administrative reforms required have only just begun. Attention should be paid to the local and regional administrations, responsible for many tasks linked to implementation.
Negotiations on the environmental chapter are to begin in 2000, but their outcome will depend on progress made by each of the countries taken individually in the transposition and implementation of the acquis. The Commission recommends that candidate countries rapidly adopt plans for implementing the whole of the acquis, in order to put them into effect immediately, together with timetables and key stages and comprising financing strategies and programmes aimed at offering full safety to public and private investment.
Rapid action is also required by applicant countries for: a) legislation relating to the protection of nature and directive EIA on new investment; b) compliance with environmental requirements linked to industrial activities so that their products have access to the Union market and in order to prevent the possibility of environmental dumping; c) the implementation of the framework legislation concerning water, air and waste; d) the establishment and strengthening of the relevant authorities as well as the institutions for implementation and monitoring of application.
Financing. The validity of the initial estimation of EUR 120 billion for investment required for transposing ten heavy directives on investment is confirmed. In addition to their environmental benefits, these investments should also bring about economic and social advantages. According to a study carried out by the Commission (the results of which will soon be published), the purely economic benefits to be gained from bringing candidate countries into line with the environmental legislation in force in the Union will be greater than the costs involved.
Progress made by most of the countries in preparing their national investment and financial strategies is welcomed by the Commission. The latter trusts the strategy and the programme of environmental investment that it is preparing for the whole region will prove a useful contribution to applicant countries in defining their priorities and investment planning. But the mobilisation of national resources is vital given that Community financial assistance in the context of pre-accession will only cover a small part of the needs, even if increases are planned in 2000. The support of the Phare programme (for the development of institutional capacities and reduction of pollution by industry) and Sapard programme (for agri-environmental measures and small-scale rural infrastructures) should be mobilised in addition to the specific support to environmental infrastructures ensured by the Ispa programme.
In conformity with Agenda 2000 and the EU Council conclusions, all the new investments should be compatible with environmental acquis. This means, among other things, that all the investment programmes benefiting from Community assistance and all the programmes and financial institutions should be subject to environmental impact assessment, imposed by the European directive 85/337/EEC for certain public and private projects.
Integration of environmental concerns in sector-specific policies. Without increased effort by applicant countries to integrate the environment in all economic sectors and in all policies, in parallel to taking the acquis on board, the environmental and sustainable development objectives pursued by the Union will not be accomplished. In order to face the challenge of integration, applicant countries should make an effort to resolve problems at source rather than carry out measures aimed to reduce environmental damage after it has been caused.
The technical assistance provided by the bias of the Phare programme to facilitate the programming of the alignment on Community legislation as well as the implemented and monitoring activities reinforced after 2000.
Eight cities from the CEEC rewarded for the environmental progress.
EUROPE recalls that during the informal meeting, the prize for the most advanced cities in the adoption of EU norms relating to the environment ("Cities towards European Union Compliance Awards " selected eight cities: Bourgas (Bulgaria), Elblag (Poland), Keckemet (Hungary), Maribor ((Slovenia), Parnu (Estonia), Ramnicu (Romania), Spisska Nova Ves (Slovakia) and Svitavy (Czech Republic). This prize compensates the remarkable progress that they have achieved in the field of water, air quality, access to information and the management of waste. The sober awarding of the prizes allowed Mrs Wallstrom to underline the importance that the EU attaches to the participation of local collectives in the adhesion process given that most of the large investments necessary of the adoption of the environmental chapter of the "aquis" will have to take place at a local level.