Environmental issues have been given high priority because of their truly regional nature. The regional environmental reconstruction plan was developed as a framework to assist the social and administrative changes needed to allow long-term sustainable development in the region. By giving their support to this plan the Balkan countries have demonstrated their commitment to its success and readiness to assume their responsibilities. Their declarations demonstrate that the principle themes of the plan are not only those of the donor community but of the countries themselves. Whilst the primary objective of the programme is to improve environmental management in the region it will also reinforce the role of local government and civil society in decision making and foster real regional cooperation

This plan was endorsed by WT2 as a basis for further work on environmental issues at its meeting in February 2000. At the same meeting the establishment of the Task Force for implementation was endorsed. The plan was supported by the European Commission who first tabled it at the WT2 meeting in Bari (October 1999) and many other potential donors.

The Balkan countries, through their declaration at the meeting of high officials from the environment ministries in Skopje on 26-27 January 2000 endorsed this approach. This was followed up by a ministerial declaration at the meeting held in Skopje on 16 March 2000.

This programme offers the framework in which regional environmental cooperation can be pursued. The framework consists of five priority components namely:

• Institutional strengthening and policy development
• Environmental Civil Society building
• Emergency assistance for combating war damage
• Reinforcement of existing co-operative mechanisms and structures and the development of regional cross-border projects
• Support to priority national and local environmental projects

A task force for implementation and a secretariat for co-ordination will service the mechanism. A full description of the programme components is given in the document tabled at the WT2 meeting on 11/2/2000 ("Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme for South Eastern Europe, February 10, 2000")

Contacts – Lead agency/agencies

The Task Force for Implementation will be co-chaired by a country of the region on a rotating basis and the European Commission. The Regional Environment Centre (REC) will provide the Secretariat. The Task Force will be open to the countries SEE, donor countries, stakeholders and relevant international organizations and institutions.

For further information please contact: Timo Maekelae, Head of Unit, European Commission, Directorate General XI, Tel. +32 2 2969517, Fax: +32 2 2994123