Environment Task Force

Joint Statement on the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Program

Joint Statement by the Participants of the Consultation Meeting of High Officials from the Ministries of Environment of South-Eastern Europe to Discuss the Development of a Regional Environmental Reconstruction Program for the South-eastern Europe

The high officials from the Ministries of Environment from Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia and Macedonia- observed by representatives of donor countries, international organizations, institutions and NGOs - participated in a discussion about the cooperation in the field of Environment in the framework of the Stability Pact for South-eastern Europe.

The participants consider that:

• Addressing environmental problems that threaten the future well being of the citizens of the region is a matter of urgency.
• Regional problems require regional solutions and the Stability Pact offers the framework for the international community to assist in the reconstruction process.
• The comprehensive reconstruction process within the framework of the Stability Pact offers a unique opportunity to integrate environmental and human health concerns into the economic sectors and forthcoming infrastructure projects, thus implementing the concept of Sustainable Development.
• The work done in the last year by the Regional Environmental Centre, the EAP Task Force, the UNEP Balkan Task Force and SECI provides a good strategic framework for the future work.
• The constructive approach of the countries in the region, as well as their readiness to cooperate, which has also been demonstrated at this meeting, highlights their commitment to integration into the structures of the EU.
• The Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme should focus on a set of key priorities that address the short term needs as well as long term objectives of the region in a cost effective manner.

• The priority areas of the Programme as identified by the SEE countries are:

1. Institutional strengthening and capacity building, including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), project preparation capacity, Environmental Funds and monitoring systems.
2. Projects with regional cooperation dimension, including participation in existing international instruments and programmes (Danube river, Mediterranean, Black Sea, UN ECE and Global Conventions, European Environment Agency etc.) and crossborder projects (such as Ohrid lake, Prespa lake, Adriatic Sea, river Vardar and other crossborder biodiversity areas)
3. Rehabilitation of environmental damage from the wars in the region, including site remediation and infrastucture repair.
4. Civil society development, including grant support to NGOs, access of the public to the decision making processes and public awareness raising.

5. Support to priority national and local projects, including National and Local Environmental Action Plans.

• The initiative taken by the European Commission and other donors, to launch the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme is very timely and appropriate, and provides an important impetus to solving the existing environmental problems in the region.
• The implementation of the programme should aim at a level of environmental protection comparable with that of the EU. Projects, plans and programmes for all sectors need to undergo EIA/SEA. This will require appropriate support from the donor community and allocation of human and institutional resources in the SEE countries.

• Environmental cooperation between the SEE countries will provide important benefits to the citizens and the environment of these countries, as well as contribute to the objectives of the Stability Pact such as democratization, economic development and increased security.

The participants agree to work together to develop and implement the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme (RERP). The process of the development and implementation of the RERP should be open to all countries, international organizations, institutions and NGOs who can make a contribution to its success.

The Participants agree to establish an Environmental Task Force under the Stability Pact to develop and facilitate the implementation and coordination of the RERP. The Task Force will consist of the SEE and will be open to donor countries, international organizations, institutions and NGOs. It will be co-chaired by a SEE country, on a rotating basis, and the European Commission. The Task Force will keep a close relationship with the EAP Task Force and the Project Preparation Committee. The secretariat to the Task Force will be provided by the Regional Environmental Centre (REC). The organisational details of the work will be decided by consensus.

The participants agree that the results of this meeting, including the programme document, should be presented to the Stability Pact Working Table on Economic Development at its meeting in Skopje in February 2000 and at the Financing Conference in Istanbul in March 2000. The results will also be presented to the EAP Task Force.

The participants request the REC together with the SEE countries to elaborate the programme document, including a budget, based on the results of this meeting and proposals of the countries. Each SEE country will take a leading role for a specific component of the programme. To this end, REC will organise further working meetings and liaise with the European Commission.

The participants welcome the invitation of the Macedonian government to host a meeting of SEE Environmental Ministers in March to finalize and endorse the RERP. The participants also welcome the inclusion of the RERP as a topic for discussion at the Ministerial Consultation on Environmental Policy Making in CEE in Szentendre on June 19, 2000.

The participants thank the Government of Macedonia for hosting this meeting and creating a constructive atmosphere for fruitful discussions.