2008 Implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Croatia Twinning Project What is a Twinning Project and how to Make it a Success ? Peter Kessler Zagreb, 18 October 2007

2008 Implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Croatia Twinning Project Twinning: Partnership of Administrations  Experts from EU Member States (MS) cooperate with experts from a beneficiary country  Direct transfer of expertise and experience into the beneficiary country  Ongoing contact between administrations beyond the term of the project desirable

2008 Implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Croatia Twinning Project The Twinning Philosophy Helping beneficiary countries to solve problems the MS themselves had recently: „hands-on, practical experience provided by civil servants from peer administrations“

2008 Implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Croatia Twinning Project Possible Topics in the Field of Environmental Protection  Development of a national environmental strategy  Institution building  Development, transposition and implementation of environmental legislation  Environmental monitoring (air and water quality)  … > No projects which are merely technical!

2008 Implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Croatia Twinning Project Possible Activities During a Twinning Project  Individual consultation and coaching  Workshops, training seminars, study trips, internships  Bilateral working groups  Development of software programs  Review of administrative procedures  Development of guidelines and manuals  Public awareness programmes ....

2008 Implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Croatia Twinning Project Some Examples with Germany as Partner  Implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive including monitoring (Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia)  Waste management (Poland, Turkey)  Chemical safety (Bulgaria)  Natura 2000 (Slovakia, Turkey)  National strategy for supporting the industry in its compliance with the environmental legislation (Bulgaria)  Environmental monitoring (Bulgaria, Lithuania, Turkey)

2008 Implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Croatia Twinning Project Favourable Prerequisites  Mutual trust  Corresponding expectations  Political will to be successful on both sides  Readiness of the MS experts to adjust to the beneficiary country‘s specific conditions  Readiness of the beneficiary country to provide necessary human and financial resources

2008 Implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Croatia Twinning Project Challenges  Wrong expectations  Change of government in the beneficiary country; change of project leader and other partners  Change of RTA or assistents  RTA or Short Term Experts not adjusting to the local situation  Beneficiary country not providing necessary human and financial resources

2008 Implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Croatia Twinning Project Personal Experiences as STE  Assignments in Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria and Serbia: Intercultural challenge!  Each beneficiary country requires different approach: analysis of the present situation and expectations!  Successful transfer of expertise and experiences or impulse for self-powered initiatives?  Side-effect: inclusion in the EU network of environmental experts

2008 Implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Croatia Twinning Project What Twinning is all about: Bringing together experts and expertise in order to facilitate transposition and implementation of EU legislation