Statement delivered by Olga Ponizova, Eco-Accord,
European ECO-Forum
Kiev “Environment for Europe” Conference
Session on Environmental Strategy, 22 May 2003
The majority of NGOs welcomes the development of EECCA
Environmental Strategy and believes that it can contribute to the improvement of
environmental situation in the region based on cooperation between EECCA countries,
between East and West, and among stakeholders. At the same time, a number of
non-governmental organizations in Ukraine and Moldova are against the participation of
their countries in the Strategy. They do not feel like belonging to EECCA region and are
scared that the participation in this Strategy would prevent their accession to the
European Union.
NGOs, which support the Strategy, consider that the
drafting process for this document serves as a good example of public participation. NGOs
were involved in consultation process since the emergence of the idea to draft such
Strategy. They were informed about the process and had an opportunity to submit comments
and proposals and to participate in the activities of expert groups. The wide consultation
process organized by European ECO-Forum contributed to the dialogue of public authorities,
non-governmental organizations, private sector and other stakeholders in relation to the
text of the Strategy.
The Strategy became closer to over 700 organisations,
which participated in discussion. This is a precondition for more active and effective
participation of our countries in its implementation. We are happy that the most of our
proposals were included in the text of the Strategy. We are grateful to everyone who
actively facilitated this dialogue: first of all, the Georgian Environment Minister Nino
Chkhobadze, the Drafting Group Chair Zaal Lomtadze, EAP TF Secretariat, Environment
Ministry of Ukraine, as well as UNDP and DEFRA for their support to the consultation
process.
Certainly, we are disappointed that the text is not that
strong as it was planned before. That is why we consider that it is very important to
draft an action plan with timelines and indicators, based on the Strategy. We call upon
you to start this work in the nearest future.
Wide involvement of civil society in the development and
implementation of the Strategy should be further ensured.
In addition, we should not forget that the Strategy was
designed to strengthen the ENVIRONMENTAL pillar of SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. Therefore, it
is important to link the implementation of Environmental Strategy with strategies that
address economic and social tasks.
We are extremely concerned that environmental ministries in our countries
have low status in the structure of governmental institutions. We will push for real
changes in this situation since we believe it is the key precondition to find effective
solutions for environmental problems and in particular for success of the Strategy.
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