In this issue:
1. OFFICIAL PREPARATORY PROCESS TO THE 6TH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE "ENVIRONMENT FOR
EUROPE" STARTS
2. EUROPEAN ECO-FORUM PROPOSALS FOR BELGRADE-2007 "ENVIRONMENT FOR EUROPE"
AGENDA
1. OFFICIAL PREPARATORY PROCESS TO THE 6TH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
"ENVIRONMENT FOR EUROPE" STARTS 1st SESSION OF THE WORKING GROUP OF SENIOR
OFFICIALS
International preparatory process to the 6th Ministerial Conference "Environment for
Europe" started officially.
Specially set by the UNECE Committee on Environmental Policy, ad hoc open-ended Working
Group of Senior Officials (WGSO) held its
1st session in Geneva, 12-13 October 2005.
As it was decided earlier by the UNECE CEP the Conference will take place in Serbia and
Montenegro in October 2007.
Mr. Miroslav Spasojevic, Ministry of Science and Environment protection of Serbia,
representing the host country - Union of Serbia and Montenegro - was elected as a Chair of
the WGSO.
European ECO-Forum, a pan-European Coalition of Environmental Citizens Organisations, was
represented at the WGSO-1 by Mara Silina, EEB, PPCC Coordinator, John Hontelez, EEB, PPCC
Chair, Olga Ponizova, ECO-Accord, EAP Issue Group Coordinator, Marie Kranendonk, WECF (on
behalf of E&H Issue Group Coordinator), Yusup Kamalov, UDASA, PPCC member, Victoria
Elias, ECO-Accord, CB Chair and Education Issue Group Coordinator.
After the adoption of the agenda Ms. Monika Linn (Team Leader for EfE in the UNECE
Secretariat) made a brief review on Kiev- 2003 decisions and preparations to Belgrade.
The following issues were proposed by the CEP already:
+ Belgrade State of Environment (SoE) report
+ Review of EECCA Environmental Strategy implementation
+ Special segment on ESD and UNECE ESD Strategy implementation (together with
Ministers of Education)
+ Addressing sustainable production and consumption issue (SPAC) - now clear
yet in which format
+ Energy and progress report on energy efficiency initiative
+ Experience of the 2nd round of Environmental Performance Reviews (EPRs)
+ UNECE Conventions, their coordination and implementation
+ Closer links to other int. processes (in particular Environment and Health
and Forests)
Further to that organizational arrangement of the Executive Committee (Execom) was
presented by the Chair with the reference to the WGSO document on Terms of Reference and
announced geographical balance of countries to be at the Execom, then he also referred to
observers (those are CEP Chair, PEBLDS Bureau Chair, EAP TF representative, EU Presidency,
European Commission representative, ECO-Forum and one representative from RECs).
The Chair asked observers to present themselves and their preparations to Belgrade. EEA
presented a proposed structure of the Belgrade SoE report (that will include not only SoE
data, but also information on policies implementation. The report will contain data on EU
according to EEA indicators and on EECCA and SEE according to other indicators based on
EECCA Env Strategy and REReP. Earlier at the CEP session EEA also said that there will be
consultations with stakeholders, but NGOs were not mentioned. ECO-Forum raised this issue
and further agreed bilaterally that will look for a way, probably using Internet forum or
help of other internationals organisations, e.g. UNEP and others for organising a
meeting).
After the EEA, the EAP Task Force Secretariat presented the Almaty+5 process (reforms of
water and sanitation municipal systems in EECCA) and mentioned that Yerevan Ministerial
Meeting (November 2005) will contribute to Belgrade preparations. They also stressed the
need to review the EECCA Environmental Strategy implementation in Belgrade.
The PPC (Project Preparation Committee) Secretariat reported on their activities and said
that in addition to 5 existing staff (3 in EECCA, 2 in London), they will have 2 more: 1
in Central Asia and 1 in Washington.
The Energy Charter Secretariat reported that they do not cover all UNECE members but will
be ready to report in Belgrade.
Following the example of the others, and with explicit agreement of the Chair, ECO-Forum
then presented its' proposals for Belgrade agenda, that were elaborated on the basis of
consultations held earlier this year at several meetings, electronically, as well as
within Issue Groups. ECO-Forum proposed a Strategy to phase out unsustainable production
and consumption patterns in the region as an overarching there for
the conference. It also stressed the need to review implementation of all previous
decisions of the EfE, proposed to decide in Belgrade on a pan-European policy on
Chemicals, strengthen work on Education for Sustainable Development and the review the
implementation of the UNECE Strategy on ESD. ECO-Forum also called upon governments to put
biodiversity high on the EfE agenda and suggested to organise within the Ministerial
conference agenda a 3-hours roundtable for Ministers and NGOs on the theme of biodiversity
(similar to roundtables on Public participation and Environmental Policy Integration that
ECO-Forum organised in Aarhus-98 and Kiev-03). ECO-Forum proposals
presented at WGSO-1 are published in the next article of this newsletter.
The PEBLDS General Secretary supported ECO-Forum suggestion on biodiversity and stressed
the importance of this issue and also
supported our proposal on the roundtable with Ministers on this issue (also adequate time
allocation).
After this round of interventions by observers UNECE member-countries discussed their
ideas and suggestions.
The Netherlands mentioned that it was inspired by the ECO-Forum presentation and said that
it is a right time for SPAC issue on
EfE agenda. It also highlighted importance of energy issues on agenda.
Norway referred to the EU intervention at the CEP session, when it was said that EU is
committed to continue its involvement in EfE (there will be 27 members of 55 UNECE by the
time of Belgrade). Norway brought issues of Poverty, further development of Monitoring,
EECCA Strategy, Education for SD. SPAC is a difficult theme but may be Eco-efficiency
would be a solution. It supported Biodiversity, stressed the need to have closer links
with E&H process and look at water-borne diseases, air pollution, climate change and
energy (all latter from the health
angle) .
UK was speaking on behalf of the EU. They reconfirmed EU commitment to EfE and said that
they will work on a paper on implementation of previous agreements (independent report
would be a good solution in EU's view). They suggested that this should be a basis for 2,5
days discussion. No new legally binding documents ("no need for additional
instruments") should be signed in Belgrade. They suggested to link discussions
with those at global level, such as MDG, WSSD Plan of Implementation, etc. UK also
stressed that there is a need to put EfE focus on environmental issues, not SD, develop
subregional initiatives and give preference to such tools as soft law doc's and
recommendations). Belgrade Ministerial should become a "Conference of delivery".
Other countries stressed some particular issues further, while most agreed that
implementation is a key approach. Latvia supported ECO-Forum proposal on new policy on
Chemicals, linking it to SAICM - Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management.
Hungary stressed Biodiversity and also called for a specific focus on Balkan countries.
The Czech Rep said that we need to think how to continue EfE after Belgrade and have small
but attractive topics, in particular stressed, ESD (including education for official and
private sector), Energy (and the fact that energy resources are in EECCA). Cz also called
for better links with the CSD cycle.
Sweden stressed Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and said that there should be
a special segment or back-to-back Ministerial meeting. Decision will be taken at the
December 2005 Regional Steering Committee meeting on ESD. It also suggested first to
listen to all ideas and then decide on topics for the conference (probably next WGSO). On
SPAC in particular they said that it is a difficult issue, we need to try to narrow down
it and find what will be deliverables (cleaner production, etc.) Agriculture may be an
interesting issue to tackle.
USA supported EU in general, questioned ESD and SPAC as well as Biodiversity, but then
supported the need to review Leaded petrol phase-out. They also said that water issues
should be on agenda (quality and quantity).
Russia also supported the need to review implementation and then raised particular themes
of water resources (management of), air pollution, biodiversity, monitoring, ESD,
transboundary issues. Russia said that there should not be a long negotiating process on
the outcoming documents (actually - no Ministerial declaration).
IUCN stressed Biodiversity (also to include this to EPR!) and criticized USA, called them
to ratify CBD before Belgrade.
UN CCD (Convention to Combat Desertification) expressed interest to further cooperate with
EfE and to address issues of environmental and economic consequences of land degradation.
Turkey stressed Energy issues.
Belarus mentioned ESD, Biodiversity, Chemicals, GMOs and called for attention to
Conventions implementation.
Chair summarized the discussion in several main points:
+ Need to assess what has been done in EfE
+ Need of Independent report on EfE decisions implementation
+ Possibility to have thematic reports to Belgrade on specific issues
+ Request to focus on specific region (f.ex South-East Europe/Balkans)
+ Conventions
+ All proposals (may be in more detailed format) to be sent in written form to
the Secretariat by 1 December 2005.
There was also a report on host country preparations (will be in video format at the next
WGSO). Mr. Spasojevic informed the WGSO that there is no federal Ministry of Environment
in Serbia and Montenegro, so there are 2 of them (one in Serbia and one in Montenegro)
involved.
Therefore the Council of Ministers of the S&M Union established a State Board on
preparations to the EfE conference. It consists of President, Vice-President, 17 members
from different Ministries and also includes 3 NGO representatives.
The 6th EfE Ministerial Conference is planned for the 1st or the 2nd week of October 2007.
EXECOM establishment
At the end of the meeting after consultations taken during 12-13 October WGSO agreed on
the EXECOM composition.
Following countries are members:
Serbia and Montenegro - Chair, Miroslav Spasojevic
Hungary - Ms. Aloisa Lakosz
Italy - Mr. Massimo Cozzone
Sweden - Mr. Jon Kahn
Switzerland - Mr. Jorg Schneider
USA - Mr. Chuck Ashley
Russia -person t.b.c.
Kyrgyzstan - person t.b.c.
Observers:
CEP Chair (Mr.Zaal Lomtadze, Georgia)
EU Presidency (currently represented by UK)
European Commission
EAP TF
PEBLDS (represented by the Chair)
European ECO-Forum (represented by the CB Chair Victoria Elias)
RECs (informed that they will rotate a representative depending
on the theme, for the time being it is Bulat Essekin of CAREC).
The 1st organisational meeting of ExeCom took place immediately after the WGSO-1.
One more WGSO issue (passed by CEP to WGSO) was Environment for Europe Communication
Strategy. But this was delegated to Execom,
which further decided to take this issue at the 2nd meeting 28 February 2006. Next meeting
of the WGSO will be in June 2006 (1st week).
Documents and information on WGSO-1 are available at
http://www.unece.org/env/wgso/Belgrade/wgsoMeetings.htm
2. EUROPEAN ECO-FORUM PROPOSALS FOR BELGRADE-2007 "ENVIRONMENT FOR
EUROPE" AGENDA
WGSO-1, Geneva, 12-13 October 2005
European ECO-Forum - a pan-European coalition of more than 200 environmental citizens'
organizations - supports the urgency and need to put specific attention to the
implementation of all agreements and decisions taken in the process, including both
legally-binding and soft law ones. In this respect we strongly support the reviews of
implementation of the:
+ SEA and PRTR protocols (Kiev-03)
+ EECCA Environmental Strategy (Kiev-03)
+ Aarhus-98 Guidelines on phasing out leaded petrol (deadline was 1 January
2005)
+ Decisions of Aarhus-98 on phasing out environmentally harmful energy
subsidies
+ Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy (Sofia-95)
+ Environmental Program for Europe (Sofia-95)
All these reviews should be action oriented.
We also strongly support the proposal to organise a special segment on the Education for
Sustainable Development and UNECE Strategy on ESD implementation at the Belgrade
conference. PUT SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION PATTERNS AT THE HEART
OF THE ENVIRONMENT FOR EUROPE PROCESS
We consider Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns to be a very important
overarching theme and goal for our region. In particular, we call upon the governments to
decide to work in the framework of "Environment for Europe" on a pan-European
regional strategy to phase out unsustainable production and consumption patterns, with a
period of implementation of 10 years. Besides the material impacts such a strategy is to
have in our own region, such a united effort could create the necessary trust with
developing countries, a precondition for progress at the global level.
As ECO-Forum stressed in its' Kiev-2003 statement, "an important element of this
strategy should be the systematic promotion of environmental policy integration, and
include the broader use of price mechanisms, the removal of environmentally harmful
subsidies, increasing market access to environmental goods and services, including by
public procurement, extended producer responsibility, as well as specific objectives for
sectoral policies, in particular transport, energy and agriculture.
+ The strategy should include regulation of advertising in order to
prevent unsubstantiated and/or misleading environmental claims. The regional strategy
should include the organisation of transfer of environmentally sound technologies within
the region as well as the prevention of further exports of obsolete technologies.
+ The strategy should include common guidelines for "green
accounting": inclusion of environmental performance of the economy in the calculation
of its GDP. Furthermore it should promote the systematic provision of information to all
levels of society and authorities on how environmental factors are influencing economical
and social development.
+ The strategy should be designed in such a way that it explicitly
contributes to the alleviation of poverty in the region and the respect for people's right
for access to resource to fulfil their basic needs."
PUT CHEMICALS ON THE AGENDA!
A very important policy is now being developed in the EU, REACH (Registration, Evaluation,
Authorisation of Chemicals). An effective REACH can drastically reduce the impacts
hazardous chemical on public health and the environment. REACH can also give a boost to
innovation in this sector.
We think that the benefits of REACH should not be limited to the EU. We are convinced that
REACH can also bring great advantages to the rest of the region. Therefore we suggest to
discuss in Belgrade how REACH can be extended to the pan-European region. Building a
regional policy on chemicals may become one of the attractive outcomes of the Belgrade
Conference.
THE BELGRADE 2007 STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT
We call upon the EEA to include in the Belgrade report the ecosystems assessment of the
pan-European region. We also urge the EEA to prepare the Belgrade report in a format of an
integrated assessment of the whole region, including EU, South-East Europe and EECCA.
Partnerships with all stakeholders, in particular environmental NGOs is very
important in the process of the report elaboration.
NGO - MINISTERIAL ROUNDTABLE
Despite all existing policies, natural ecosystems and biodiversity remain under serious
threat in the region. ECO-Forum volunteers to organise a roundtable for Ministers and NGOs
in the Belgrade Ministerial conference, where the main focus will be made on biodiversity,
also in light on "Countdown 2010" initiative and UN Millennium Ecosystems
Assessment We call for sufficient time for the Roundtable. Previous experience of
Environment for Europe conferences in Aarhus-98 and Kiev-03 shows that such a roundtable
can provide for open and frank discussion between ministers and NGOs on issues of urgency
and importance. For that we call upon allocation of 3 hours on during the Conference.
European ECO-Forum contact:
Victoria Elias, Chair of the Coordination Board,
c/o ECO-Accord, P.O.Box 43, 129090 Moscow, Russia
tel /fax: +7-095-924-40-04, +7-095-924-40-63
e-mail: elias@leadnet.ru, velias@mail.ru
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