Brussels, 23/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - The advantages to be gained from the European body of law in the environment field, the preparation and the follow-up of international meetings and the common strategy for implementation of the framework directive on water will take up most of the work of the environment ministers of the thirteen candidate countries during their seventh informal annual meeting with Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström and the Belgian Presidency, on 27 November in Brussels.
The themes of this informal meeting are: 1) the advantages of implementing European legislation: Ms Wallström will present the results of a study proving that the advantages to be gained by candidate countries in terms of health care savings, production costs and imports, and the benefits for the environment may be substantial (between EUR 134 and 681 billion); 2) sustainable development indicators in the prospect of the Barcelona Summit, and the involvement of candidate countries in the sustainable development strategy from 2003 in accordance with the conclusions of the Gothenburg Summit; 3) preparation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, September 2002); 4) climate change (trading of CO2 emission rights and ratification of the Kyoto Protocol); and 5) guidelines for the implementation of the framework agreement on water.
In addition, like every year, 15 towns of Central and Eastern Europe will be awarded prizes for making the most progress in adopting the EU standards (Cities Towards European Union Compliance Award).