1 ENVIRONMENT FOR EUROPE: Pan-European Ministerial Process Mary Pat Silveira Secretary of the Environment for Europe process UN Economic Commission for Europe

2 CONTENTS HistoryHistory StructureStructure Preparatory processPreparatory process EfE and legal instrumentsEfE and legal instruments

3 HISTORY The process was initiated by Mr. Josef Vavrousek, Environment Minister of what was then Czechoslovakia;The process was initiated by Mr. Josef Vavrousek, Environment Minister of what was then Czechoslovakia; The first Ministerial Conference took place near Prague, at Dobris Castle, on June 1991.The first Ministerial Conference took place near Prague, at Dobris Castle, on June 1991.

4 HISTORY TOTAL OF FIVE CONFERENCES HAVE BEEN ORGANIZED: Second in Lucerne (1993)Second in Lucerne (1993) Third in Sofia (1995)Third in Sofia (1995) Fourth in Aarhus (1998)Fourth in Aarhus (1998) Fifth in Kiev (2003)Fifth in Kiev (2003) Sixth Conference will take place in Belgrade, in 2007

5 EfE FOCUS Harmonize environmental quality and policies across all 55 UNECE member StatesHarmonize environmental quality and policies across all 55 UNECE member States Use environmental cooperation to work toward peace and stability and sustainable development in the regionUse environmental cooperation to work toward peace and stability and sustainable development in the region Support partnerships, with a special focus on EECCA countries (Aarhus)Support partnerships, with a special focus on EECCA countries (Aarhus)

6 THE STRUCTURE The EfE process is a unique partnership of: the member States within the UNECE regionthe member States within the UNECE region organizations of the UN systemorganizations of the UN system other intergovernmental organizationsother intergovernmental organizations regional environment centresregional environment centres non-governmental organizations and other major groups.non-governmental organizations and other major groups.

7 THE STRUCTURE The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, which has been closely associated with the “Environment for Europe” process since the beginning, serves as secretariat to the process.

8 THE STRUCTURE Active partners include,e.g. European CommissionEuropean Commission OECDOECD The Council of EuropeThe Council of Europe The EEAThe EEA UNEP, UNDP and WHOUNEP, UNDP and WHO World Bank and EBRDWorld Bank and EBRD EcoForumEcoForum

9 PREPARATORY PROCESS Open-ended EfE Preparatory Group is established for 2 year preparation of Conference: next meeting is Oct 2005Open-ended EfE Preparatory Group is established for 2 year preparation of Conference: next meeting is Oct 2005 All member States and partners participate in Preparatory Group and both take initiatives and assume responsibility for bringing items to the Conference agendaAll member States and partners participate in Preparatory Group and both take initiatives and assume responsibility for bringing items to the Conference agenda

10 PREPARATORY PROCESS Open-ended EfE Preparatory Group is responsible, inter alia, for: Deciding the agenda for the next (Belgrade) Ministerial ConferenceDeciding the agenda for the next (Belgrade) Ministerial Conference Accepting proposals for who will take the lead in preparing an item and monitoring the readiness of the item for the ConferenceAccepting proposals for who will take the lead in preparing an item and monitoring the readiness of the item for the Conference

11 PREPARATORY PROCESS Negotiating the draft Ministerial DeclarationNegotiating the draft Ministerial Declaration Undertaking all other substantive preparationsUndertaking all other substantive preparations Working closely with the Host Country in its local preparationsWorking closely with the Host Country in its local preparations

12 EfE AND LEGAL INSTRUMENTS The Ministerial Conferences have three functions re regional environmental legal instruments:

13 LEGAL INSTRUMENTS 1.Introduce or support new areas in which negotiations should begin or are underway: (e.g., work on Protocols to “Air Convention” for sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions and on VOC emissions supported at Dobris Conference; completion of negotiations on European Energy Charter supported at Lucerne; Aarhus Convention supported at Sofia Conference)

14 LEGAL INSTRUMENTS 2. Include on the Conference Agenda adoption and signing by the Parties of a new legal instrument (e.g., Aarhus Convention in Aarhus; Carpathian Convention and three new ECE Protocols ( Strategic Environmental Assessment, Civil Liability and Damage Caused by the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents on Transboundary Waters and Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers) in Kiev

15 LEGAL INSTRUMENTS 3. Encourage member States to sign and ratify legal instruments Neither the Ministerial Conference nor its Preparatory Group themselves negotiate new instruments. They may welcome and encourage such negotiations initiated by other fora.

16 PREPARING FOR BELGRADE New issues for Belgrade should be brought to the Open-ended EfE Preparatory Group, Oct 2005New issues for Belgrade should be brought to the Open-ended EfE Preparatory Group, Oct 2005 Preparatory Group could decide that issue may proceed to Belgrade if:Preparatory Group could decide that issue may proceed to Belgrade if: –All members of the Group agree –A State or organization volunteers to take the lead –A State/s or organization/s provides financing for the preparatory process

17 TARGET GROUP Focus should be inclusive of all UNECE member StatesFocus should be inclusive of all UNECE member States EfE process is geared to harmonization across all 55 States and cooperation among them.EfE process is geared to harmonization across all 55 States and cooperation among them. Example: EECCA Environment Strategy, adopted in Kiev, was conceived as a partnership – it is not limited to EECCA countriesExample: EECCA Environment Strategy, adopted in Kiev, was conceived as a partnership – it is not limited to EECCA countries

18 EECCA STRATEGY & GMOS Reference in Section 4.4: AgricultureReference in Section 4.4: Agriculture Action stated as follows:Action stated as follows: –“Control application of growth promoters, antibiotics; apply cautious approaches for decision-making on use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), based on the precautionary principle.”

19 Thank you Mary Pat Silveira Secretary, EfE