REReP Implementation Progress Report October 2006 – November 2007 Marta Szigeti Bonifert Executive Director

The Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme for South Eastern Europe Foundation for Integration New leaflet adapted to the new platform Initial introduction of REReP’s successor RENA (Regional Environmental Network for Accession) Introduction to the history of the programme, its structure and recent activities

New Donor Support Total amount is EUR 5,325,243 The distribution of support within the priority areas: institution building: EUR 4,356,133 (81.8%) civil society support: EUR 396,417 (7.4%) regional and cross-border cooperation: EUR 263,909 (5.0%) reducing environmental health threats and loss of biodiversity: EUR 308,784 (5.8%)

Institution Building ACCOMPLISHED PROJECTS (examples) Water and Wastewater in Industry: A Training Programme in Croatia series of interactive training activities for several industrial sectors, and relevant authorities, including the site-visits to the participating industries 4 workshops and final seminar organized insight into IPPC permitting, monitoring and reporting, BAT Concept and emphasis on wastewater issues competent authorities and operators of the installations were provided with a training and guidelines for achieving compliance with IPPC Directive on pollutant releases to water supported by the Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway Partnership for Clean Fuel and Vehicles beneficiary country: Bosnia and Herzegovina promotion of the phase-out of leaded petrol along with the use of low-sulphur fuels, concurrently with requirements for cleaner vehicle technology Round table “Possibilities for reducing the use of leaded petrol in Bosnia and Herzegovina” organized jointly by the Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles on November 2006 supported by UNEP

Institution Building CURRENT PROJECT (examples) Bridging the gaps II in Montenegro second phase of the project “Bridging the Gaps: Enhancing MEA Implementation in the Balkans” focus on the Republic of Montenegro aim to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders to comply with and enforce MEAs in 2 thematic areas: Biodiversity and Chemicals/waste an assessment of the current national (and sub-regional) organizational infrastructures of the country with regard to the implementation of relevant MEAs, and a National Implementation Plan National Training Course supported by UNEP/DEWA – Kenya

Institution Building NEW PROJECTS (examples) Local Environmental Action Planning for Sustainability in the South Eastern Europe  Assists 19 municipalities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo (under UNSC Resolution 1244) to develop Local Environmental Action Plans (LEAPs)  Project total 2,6 MEUR with 1 MEUR in direct investments for local priority environmental projects  Addresses issues of local environmental planning, management and investment-needs  Contributes to overall poverty reduction  Supported by the Swedish Agency for Development and Cooperation (Sida)

Institution Building NEW PROJECTS (examples) Priority Environmental Investment Programme developing updated lists and reports of infrastructure investment projects (every half a year) 2 Manuals on developing and preparing environmental infrastructure projects development. 4 Regional Meetings attended by national authorities and donors’ community with the main aim to discuss the progress on environmental infrastructure projects development and to discuss the way forward with securing finance for investment projects. 7 National Workshops on developing environmental infrastructure projects final publication - report on the progress of environmental infrastructure development in the SEE will be prepared, highlighting new barriers and good examples from the countries.  supported by European Commission

Priority Environmental Investment Programme (progress summary) PEIP Regional Meeting held on 26 th November 2007 (first RM) Lists of priority projects updated for all the countries in November 2007 (first update) Project teams established, focal points nominated, preparatory work for national workshops on-going Institution Building

Institution Building NEW PROJECTS (examples) Assistance in Environmental Law Drafting in SEE promotes the efficient and effective development of comprehensive legislative frameworks in compliance with the EU environmental acquis facilitates the regional cooperation on transposition of EU environmental legislation through: wide range of regional activities (regional workshop and study visits) support for the operation of the Environmental Law Approximation Network (ELAN) at the national level, the task includes progress monitoring (PM) work for potential candidate countries and The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The PM methodology, tables of concordance and implementation questionnaires will be used Matrix of country-based environmental law projects update and preparation of a newsletter every 6 months supported by European Commission

Institution Building Assistance in Environmental Law Drafting in SEE (progress summary) The 7 th Environmental Law Approximation Network (ELAN) meeting took place in Skopje, November 15-16, 2007 Kick off meetings to launch the second year of progress monitoring on transposition and implementation of EU environmental acquis took place in 6 out of 7 country/entities The local teams to perform the progress monitoring task have been set up. Relevant progress monitoring tools were reviewed and updated incl Progress Monitoring Manual and tables of concordances and implementation questionnaires for 64 EU directives and regulations Matrix of country-based environmental law projects was updated The first issues of the Environmental Law Approximation newsletter in SEE have been prepared.

Institution Building NEW PROJECTS (examples) Partnership for Clean Fuel and Vehicles (PFCFV) Actions in Serbia and former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to phase out lead in fuels Activities aim at contributing to lead phase out through: assistance to state administration blood lead level tests of children in Belgrade; mapping negative effects of lead on human health assessment of the vehicles which may phase limitations using unleaded petrol capacity building of decision makers, industry and other stakeholders awareness raising activities for the public supported by UNEP

Civil Society Building ACCOMPLISHED PROJECTS (examples) Green Pack Albania developed a set of multimedia curricular materials based on the positive results achieved during the implementation of the REC Green Pack in several countries from CEE. addresses the diversity of environmental challenges Albania is faced with today supported by Embassy of Netherlands, Tirana Green Pack in former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia a teacher’s guide, CD-ROM, dilemma game, DVD and other instructional materials developed addresses the diversity of environmental challenges in former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia supported by Austrian Development Agency Trust Fund for Locally Initiated Environmental Projects in Albania continued to support NGO activities 12 new grants have been awarded and over 17 have been finalised a fair competitive process of evaluation supported by Embassy of Netherlands, Tirana

Civil Society Building CURRENT PROJECTS (examples) SECTOR: Supporting Environmental Civil Society Organisations in South Eastern Europe four-year programme supporting civil society organisations (CSOs) in the Western Balkans focus on issues relevant to sustainable development and the urban environment the three main components are: 1) Organisational Viability 2) Project Support 3) Networking Assistance and Training. supported by The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)

Civil Society Building NEW PROJECTS (examples) Public awareness raising for development tourism in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina the project goal is to raise awareness of natural values of schoolchildren age 7 to 11 production of brochure with short instructions on where and how to organize a visit to natural values determination of the most important sites where natural values can be presented and its protection and environmental friendly activities can be promoted development of instructions with suggested programs for one day study tours for each site, supported by Ministry of Environment, Bosnia and Herzegovina Sustainable Kosovo (as defined by UNSCR 1244) raising environmental awareness through a critical, vital and multi-ethnic environmental movement establishing the foundation for formal and official cooperation between ministries and environmental civil society organizations capacity building for governmental officials, environmental organizations and industry supported by Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MATRA

Cross Border Cooperation ACCOMPLISHED PROJECTS (examples) Cross Border Cooperation through Environmental Investment and Planning Project operated in three cross-border sites in the SEE region: Zvornik, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Mali Zvornik, Serbia Debar, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Peshkopia, Albania Bileca, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Niksic, Montenegro. 4 international standard feasibility studies were prepared the investments focused on water resources protection (water supply efficiency improvement, reduction of pollution caused by discharge of wastewater and institutional strengthening) active involvement of the local stakeholders from the early stages training program developed in feasibility analysis methodology, tools capacity of the local authorities to identify, develop and prepare environmental investment projects significantly improved through workshops and training the investment projects communicated with representatives of IFI and national authorities assisted the beneficiaries in identifying viable financing options for the investments supported by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Cross Border Cooperation CURRENT PROJECTS (examples)  Cross-Border LEAPs: Environmental Planning for Peace and Stability  beneficiary countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia  four communities in the cross-border region of the Drina River (Priboj, Rudo, Bratunac and Ljubovija)  general objective of the project is improve, through local environmental action plans (LEAPs), peace and stability in region  developing a model for cross-border, participatory local environmental planning  selected local priority investment actions will be undertaken in 2008  supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands

Cross Border Cooperation NEW PROJECT (examples) Neretva Delta, Skadar/Shkodra Lake, West Stara Planina - Follow-up 2007 & 2008 Fourth phase of the project “Trans-boundary Cooperation through the Management of Shared Natural Resources” Management and implementation on country level only Institutional ground for long-term trans-boundary cooperation for the management of shared natural resources Facilitation of processes and activities in the trans-boundary Neretva Delta Forum Forum of Shkodra Lake facilitation Further institutionalization of Euroregion Stara Planina is taking place supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

Reducing Environmental Health Threats and Loss of Biodiversity ACCOMPLISHED PROJECTS (examples) Preparation of Action Plans for the remediation of three heavily polluted areas (hot spots) in Serbia identification and assess of historically polluted sites with significant pollution of the surface and ground water a short-list of sites proposed for priority action comprehensive plans prepared for the remediation of the pollution potential through clean-up or risk reduction small-scale pilot studies undertaken to prove the validity of proposed remediation schemes supported by the European Agency for Reconstruction

Reducing Environmental Health Threats and Loss of Biodiversity NEW PROJECTS (examples) Additional Services for Support to Water Quality Management beneficiary country: Bosnia and Herzegovina water sector institutions support in reaching a "good water status", as defined in the Water Framework Directive introduction of water management principle according to EC practice supported by the European Commission Preparation of Project Documentation for Construction of Sewage Systems and Wastewater Treatment beneficiary country: former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia feasibility Study for the municipal area (23 settlements) preliminary and detailed design on sewerage systems with wastewater treatment plants for 4 priority villages supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway

REReP TF Secretariat activities Regional co-operation activities Two regional meetings on cross border co-operation will be carried out Preliminary dates: March 2008 and February 2009 Possible topics: climate change and Natura 2000

Thank you for your attention!