Brussels, 14/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has defined a strategy for pan-European environmental co-operation between the enlarged European Union and the countries of the Western Balkans and the New Independent States (NIS). This environmental cooperation between the 25-state EU and its eastern neighbours will follow on in 2004 from the pledges already made by the Commission in its bilateral agreements with third countries.
The Communication announcing the strategy will be the Commission's contribution to the fifth conference of European Environment Ministers taking place in Kiev (May 21-23) this year, as part of the "Environment for Europe" process launched in 1991 by the under the UN-ECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe).
A broad outline of the strategy:
a regionally differentiated environmental policy through the development of the environmental provisions included in the bilateral agreements that the EU has signed with these individual countries, such as the Europe agreements with the 10 Accession countries as well as with Bulgaria and Romania, the Association Partnership with Turkey, the Stabilisation and Association process with the five Western Balkan countries, the Partnership and Co-operation agreements with Russia, Ukraine and other New Independent States (NIS) and a reorientation of the Environment for Europe process.
Strengthening cooperation through the consolidatiion of sub-regional cooperation networks (like the Northern dimension of the EU, the environmetnal reconstruction programme for the Balkans and the Danube/Black Sea Task Force).
Support for sustaiable development and overall environmental protection, through the implementation of the agreements signed at the Johannesburg Summit and through helping improve environmental legislation (with a view to alighing it with European stazndards and respecting the trade and environment measures of the WTO Doha agenda).
Refocusing cooperation with the Balkans on the strengthening of institutional capacity, support for civil society and reducing threats to the health connected with the environmet.
Cooperation with NIS in line with the priorities of: combatting climate change, efficient use of energy, improving public health, and improving resource efficiency.
Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström commented: "Since the launch of the 'Environment for Europe' process in 1991, the political landscape of Europe has changed dramatically. We now stand on the verge of a historic enlargement of the European Union that will also alter the way we work with our new neighbours to the East… Thanks to the Environment for Europe process environmental co-operation across Europe has made good progress. Now we need to ensure that the legal and other agreements resulting from our co-operation such as the Aarhus Convention - are made fully operational and are implemented."