1. The European Union supporting SEIS across the neighbourhood
11 November 2010

3. The Foreign Policy Framework
What is the basis for the Commission to cooperate with its neighbours on environmental issues?
Environmental agreements to which the EU is party
As an integral part of EU foreign policy
In bilateral agreements - environment is sector highlighted for cooperation
For the neighbouring countries relations relations are governed by the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) – Foreign Affairs in the lead.
Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan
Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia.

4. The basics of the ENP
Building upon and strengthening existing relations (legal and institutional accords)
Focused policy approach, bringing all thematic policies into bilateral relations, making “neighbourhood” a special category (focus) in external relations
Principle of differentiation: progress is rewarded
Using relevant EU experience in how to support transition and sequence reforms e.g. “twinning” officials …
Gradual approximation with the acquis communautaire in selected relevant areas
Increased financial and technical assistance with jointly agreed policy priorities targeted
Financial support from the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI)

5. ENP Action Plans The key operational instruments
Country-specific, tailor-made political documents
Jointly defined agenda on political & economic reforms
Short & medium-term priorities (3-5 years horizon)
Political documents
Guidance for assistance programming
Future model under review

6. Multilateral and Regional policy framework
Union for the Mediterranean/Euro-Mediterranean
Horizon 2020 de-pollution initiative
infrastructure
Capacity building
Monitoring and research
UfM key priority
Eastern Partnership
Includes ENP East partners (Russia not included)
Platform 2 “Economic Integration and Convergence with EU policies” has a panel “Environment and Climate change”
Flagship project on Environmental Governance
Black Sea Synergy

7. EU/Russia Relations Strategic Partnership (as with USA, China etc) Russia not in ENP (but does participate in some ENPI projects) 7

8. Framework of EU-Russia foreign relations
EU-Russia Partnership & Cooperation Agreement (in force 1997-). New Agreement currently under negotiation.
‘Common Spaces’ (2005-) set up series of sectoral dialogues including Environmental Dialogue
Partnership for Modernisation launched May 2010 includes environmental actions:
Shared environmental monitoring system
Combating illegal logging – Voluntary Agreement on timber certification
Industrial permitting and BAT
Transboundary EIA

9. Environmental cooperation in the neighbourhood
The policy framework is much more structured under the ENP than in the past
Identified priorities are joint
supported at government level not just environment ministries
ENPI finance must support ENP Policy
Almost all finance for the region comes out of the ENPI
Majority in bilateral programmes - beneficiary countries define priorities
Activity must support ENP
Target priorities of ENP Action Plans (where they exist)
Therefore, environmental cooperation must be linked to the ENP to have Commission involvement or financial support from the ENPI.
Commission not supporting any ad-hoc or stand alone activities

10. So where does SEIS fit in to all this?
EU Foreign policy linkage
EAST
Eastern Partnership flagship project
Launched in March 2010
SOUTH
Horizon 2020
All countries with ENP Action Plans have expressed a wish to work with the European Environment Agency (EEA) in the Action Plan
This SEIS project is the vehicle through which that demand will be met
EEA can bring SEIS experience to the ENP region
Partner countries themselves can help shape SEIS in the ENP region
Link to the acquis
For both regions SEIS can support collection and monitoring linked to conventions (UNEP MAP, UNECE)