Summary of
discussions among EECCA NGOs concerning EECCA Strategy
NGO SEMINAR on EECCA Environmental Strategy
1-2 February 2003, Moscow
1. DISCUSSION OVER THE NEED OF THE STRATEGY
The majority of NGOs agree that EECCA countries have a
number of common problems and features in the area of environmental protection and
consider it important to draft a document, which would aim to solve EECCA environmental
problems. NGOs realize that it is important to unite efforts of EECCA countries, as well
as of other countries and partners of “Environment for Europe” process.
At the same time, a number of Ukrainian and Moldovan NGOs
have the other point of view. They do not consider that participation of Ukraine and
Moldova in the Strategy is expedient claiming that these countries have no common problems
with EECCA countries that would justify the Strategy. They also mention that the Strategy
pushes these countries into the Soviet past and does not help them to get closer to the
European Union. Some NGOs deny the need to draft a Strategy considering that no new
document is needed, and that the analyses of non-implementation of old documents and
insufficient effectiveness of the current environmental policy should be realized.
Those NGOs, which generally support the need of EECCA
Strategy, consider that the idea about the implementation of the Strategy as a partnership
goal of all countries and other stakeholders of “Environment for Europe” process and
as a possible instrument of implementation of the “regional deal” concept deserves
attention.
NGOs, which generally support the idea of the “East-West
Environmental Partnership: Environmental Strategy for Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and
Central Asia for the first decade of 21 century”, note that the current draft of the
Strategy is unsatisfactory and should be considerably improved with active participation
of NGOs. The vast majority of NGOs agree that after considerable revision the document may
be adopted by the Kiev Ministerial Conference in May 2003.
In this respect, it is important not only to officially
approve the Strategy in the Kiev Ministerial Declaration, but to develop and put into
practice concrete partnership initiatives to implement the Strategy (based on East-West
and East-East cooperation and efforts of many stakeholders – governments, public,
business and others).
NGOs express an opinion that since NGOs accumulate huge
scientific and expert resources they could draft a text of the Strategy which would be
much more advanced.
2. GOALS AND TASKS
NGOs are unsatisfied that the draft of the Strategy does
not clearly state its goals. NGOs consider it very important to clearly fix:
À) The goal of the Strategy.
NGOs perceive that the goal of the Strategy is to define
priority environmental problems of EECCA countries and the ways to solve them. The main
method of the Strategy is facilitating co-operation between EECCA countries, which have
different economic and environmental potential, in order to prevent environmentally
dangerous consequences.
Â) Goals of EECCA countries.
EECCA countries shall clearly state what goals they try to
achieve by means of the Strategy (in particular, conservation of ecosystems in EECCA
countries, prevention of further degradation of ecosystems in EECCA countries,
strengthening the environmental pillar of sustainable development in the region, as well
as such tactical goals as restructuring environmental management systems, revision of
environmental policy principles, raising the roles of different social groups in
decision-making process, etc.)
Goals of each target/direction of the Strategy shall
include quantitative indicators and timetables when possible. NGOs suggest to define the
stages for implementation of measures of the Strategy by fixing timeframes of 2006, 2009
and 2012.
Ñ) General principles of the Strategy.
Such principles as transparency in decision-making, broad
and active access to information on the Strategy and its mechanisms, and risk assessment
in all decision-making processes shall apply to all programs and mechanisms of the
Strategy.
3.STRUCTURE OF THE STRATEGY
The structure of the Strategy needs to be altered. All
NGOs agree that it is needed to significantly cut the introduction/history of the process
or, if possible, place the history in the annex. There are different suggestions on the
structure of the Strategy, including the following one:
The Strategy should include 4 large blocks. 1-2 priority
actions shall be defined for each block. The following blocks are suggested:
Goals and priorities of the Strategy
Implementation mechanism, indicators and reporting
Thematic blocks
3.1. Environmental legislation, policy and institutions
3.2. Environmental pollution and health
3.2.1 Air quality
3.2.3. Radiation
3.4. Sectoral policy Introduction
3.4.1.Energy
3.4.2. Agriculture
3.4.3. Forestry
3.5. Institutional development and public participation
3.5.1. Access to information
3.5.2. Public participation
3.5.3. Participation of private sector
3.5.4. Education, science and capacity building
3.6. Financial and economic instruments
3.7. Transboundary cooperation
IV. Institutional mechanisms for implementation of the
Strategy.
4. FORMAT OF THE STRATEGY
The Strategy will not work unless mechanisms of
implementation, action plan, quantitative indicators (concrete targets to be reached) and
timeframes are added. The indicators shall adequately reflect the interests of all states.
NGOs have also underlined that provisions of the Strategy shall by ‘targeted’ so that
each authority would be aware of what to implement.
At the same time, some NGOs noted that the most important
thing is the spirit of the Strategy. The Strategy may not be a long and detailed document,
but it should clearly state the political will to solve the problems of the region through
partnership in the framework of “Environment for Europe” process.
5. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE STRATEGY
It is very important to define who and how will coordinate
the implementation of the Strategy. NGOs have a united position that existing institutions
should be used, rather then new ones be created. Basically, NGOs agree that EAP Task Force
would have a key role in coordinating the implementation of the Strategy. The coordinating
institution should be based in EECCA and hosted by representations (of OECD or other
international organizations). Its status and funding should be strengthened. NGOs consider
it very important to create a Public Advisory Board on implementation of the Strategy.
6. MISSING AND INCOMPLETE ISSUES
NGOs consider that the following issues/chapters are not
adequately covered in the Strategy:
The chapter on environmental policy integration into sectoral policies
is not written accurately. It should state the problem first. Additional areas should be
covered – in particular, military activities, forestry and trade.
In addition to hazardous wastes, other wastes and impacts shall be
covered.
Thesaurus / list of terms shall be provided in the Strategy.
The understanding of “partnership” shall be clearly reflected in the
Strategy (East-West, multi-stakeholder)
7. INAPPROPRIATE POINTS
On the issue of raising tariffs for water – the Strategy almost does
not take into account the need to prevent social conflicts.
Many NGOs do not agree with provisions on the fundamental change of
standards.
Many NGOs do not agree with provisions on best available technologies.
The Strategy ignores nuclear stations and spent nuclear fuel.
NGOs suggest that a separate provision on GMOs is included in the
chapter on agriculture or biodiversity. It is not appropriate to just mention GMOs and
describe them as positive experience.
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