1. Cohesion funds projects in the light of EU Environmental policy & acquis Michal NEKVASIL European Commission, DG Environment Cohesion Policy and Environmental Impact Assessments Unit Prague, 24-25 February 2005

2. 2 Cohesion fund projects submitted to the Commission in 2004 (results of the first inter-service consultation) Projects with no environmental problems Projects with major env. problems The Czech Republic 411 10 New EU Member States 29106

3. 3 What is the Cohesion Fund for (an example to begin with) Compliance with the EU water policy (the Urban Waste Water Directive) is investment demanding a transitional period agreed with the Czech Republic + Cohesion fund used to (re)construct WWTPs and sewerage systems In other words: Cohesion Fund is a tool to help Member States implement the EU policy and legislation (besides others in the area of environment)

4. 4 DG ENV assessment is based on: EU environmental policies EU environmental legislation Council decision of 24/09/1998 – …new investments (in particular the ones receiving EU funding) should be in line with environmental acquis… Transitional periods on environmental legislation agreed prior to accession

5. 5 EU environmental policies Sustainable Development Strategy 6th Environmental Action Program - Tackling climate change - Nature & biodiversity - Environment & health - Sustainable use of natural resources & waste management Integration of environment into other EU policies

6. 6 6th Environmental Action Program Thematic strategies Marine Soil Pesticides Air pollution Urban environment Resource use and management Waste prevention and recycling

7. 7 Key EU environmental legislation in relation to Cohesion fund projects EIA and SEA Natura 2000 (Habitats and Birds directive) Water legislation Waste legislation COMPLIANCE WITH NATIONAL LEGISLATION IS NOT ENOUGH!

8. 8 Transitional periods on environmental legislation agreed prior to accession Urban Waste Water Directive - 31/12/2006 for agglomerations > 10.000 PE - 31/12/2010 for agglomerations > 2.000 PE Packaging - 31/12/2012 for attaining all the recovery and recycling targets Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment - 31/12/2008 for attaining the separate collection, and recovery targets

9. 9 Commission decisions on co-funding Projects have to comply with article 8 of Cohesion Fund Regulation 1164/94 (article 12 of the Structural Fund Regulation 1260/99) This compliance is checked by relevant Directorates-General (DG REGIO, Legal Service, DG ENV, DG MARKT, DG COMP, etc.) in an inter-service consultation

10. 10 Timing for submission of a proposal Studies Work Dev consent EIA Prep. work AVOID SUBMITTING PROJECTS AT TOO EARLY STAGE !

11. 11 Specific problems in the Czech Cohesion Fund projects Natura 2000 - list of sites approved only on 22/12/2004 - declaration of the competent authority + maps missing EIA - exclusion of projects from the scope of the directive - screening of Annex II projects not according to Annex III criteria Point 6.7 of the application form - estimated proportion of total cost attributable to mitigation measures can never be 100% Sewage sludge and industrial waste water pre-treatment - insufficient information An amended application form is not acceptable

12. 12 What we have achieved so far in 2000-6 (integration of the environment in the cohesion policy) Around 16% foreseen for environment in Objectives 1 & 2 in 2000-6 (in EU15) 50% of the Cohesion Fund set aside for environmental infrastructure in EU25 Increase by 75% of expenditure on environment from 1994-9 period in EU15 Around 8.5 billion for EU12 2000-6 for environment for SF, CF, ISPA, PHARE & SAPARD

13. 13 Best practice – use of Cohesion funds in the waste water sector Dublin Bay wastewater plant - completed in summer 2003 - largest EC co-financed wastewater project - provides clean wastewater for 1.6 million people - meets EC effluent and sludge quality standards - environment friendly by-products (fertilizer and biogas) - over 40/200 million from the polluter pays principle - provided 40 new permanent jobs - for more info: http://www.dublincity.ie/services/dubbay2.html

14. 14 Best practice – use of Cohesion funds in the waste sector Integrated waste management project in Portugal - separate collection of municipal waste - sorting stations - transfer stations - closing of illegal landfills, construction of new landfills - awareness-raising campaign - a following stage: composting - for more info: Águas de Portugal: http://www.adp.pt

15. 15 THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION ! Contact in DG Environment: E-mail: michal.nekvasil@cec.eu.int