Environment Task Force

Joint Statement by the Ministers of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia and Romania on the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme for South Eastern Europe

The Ministers of Environment from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia and Romania - observed by representatives of donor countries, international organisations, institutions and NGOs – met in Skopje to discuss and agree upon the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme for South Eastern Europe (REReP) in the framework of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe.

The Ministers 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 Center, 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:

i. Institutional strengthening and policy development;

ii. Civil society development;

iii. Rehabilitation of environmental damage from the wars in the region;

iv. projects with regional cooperation dimension, including participation in

existing international instruments and programmes.

v. Support to priority national and local projects.

• 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 democratisation, economic development and increased security.

The Ministers endorse the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme document that was presented at the Stability Pact Working Table II meeting in Skopje on February 11, 2000, and agree on the List of Immediate Project Priorities for the Implementation of the REReP that are attached to this Joint Statement. The Ministers stress that the REReP will be a living document, responding to the changing needs and circumstances in the region and agree to work together to develop it further and implement it. They are convinced that the scope and the magnitude of the Programme will evolve in the light of the progress and identified needs.

The process of the development and implementation of the REReP should be open to all countries, international organisations, institutions and NGOs who can make a contribution to its success.

The Ministers approve the Terms of Reference of the Task Force for Implementation of the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme (REReP Task Force) under the Stability Pact, as the ad-hoc group, which will develop, update and facilitate the implementation and coordination of the REReP. It is co-chaired by a SEE country, on a rotating basis, and the European Commission. The first Co-chair from a SEE country will be Minister Popovski of Macedonia, and the Ministers are looking forward to the nomination of the other Co-chair by the European Commission.

The Ministers agree that the results of this meeting, including the Programme document and the List of Immediate Project Priorities, should be presented to the participants of the Stability Pact, and in particular to the Working Table I, since they contain many elements that also contribute to the development of democracy in the region. The Ministers also agree to jointly present the REReP at the Ministerial Consultation on Environmental Policy Making in CEE in Szentendre, Hungary, on June 19, 2000.

As a first step, the Ministers invite the donor countries and the European Community to mobilize the necessary resources for implementing the REReP during 2000-2001 at the forthcoming Stability Pact Regional Finance Conference in March 2000.

The Ministers express the common wish of the SEE countries to quickly become members of the European Environment Agency, as an important step to become part of the European Union structures, and an important opportunity to harmonise and integrate environmental monitoring across Europe. The Ministers call upon the EEA to establish close co-operation with the SEE countries as soon as possible.

The Ministers congratulate the Regional Environmental Center in Szentendre with its Country Offices in the SEE region for its excellent work in preparing the REReP. The Ministers thank the international organisations and institutions, including the European Commission, OSCE, Stability Pact Secretariat, UNEP, UN/ECE, UNDP, UNMIK, PPC, IUCN and WWF, for their input into the development, and commitment to the implementation of the Programme.

The Ministers congratulate the host, Minister Popovski on his excellent leadership in bringing forward the initiative to develop the REReP, and thank the Government of Macedonia for hosting this meeting and creating a constructive atmosphere for fruitful discussions.