1. Environmental Information System Development – Status Update Status Update Romania REReP 1.8 Wrap-up/Training Workshop June 19-20, 2003 Sofia, Bulgaria

2. Current Status I Institutional set-up for monitoring and data collection for waters: Romanian Administration of Romanian Waters for air: MWEP and the Ministry of Health (MH) for soils: Ministry of Agriculture for health: MH(Inspectorates for Public Health) for noise and vibrations: MWEP for radioactivity: National Commission for Nuclear Activities (part of MWEP) All data is collected and processes at national level by ICIM and sent to MWEP. MWEP has a protocol for data exchange with the National Institute for Statistics. Legal framework The Frame-Law on Environmental Protection 137/1995 provides that an Integrated Monitoring System (IMS) at national level has to be in place.

3. Current Status II Data collection and management Within EPIs, an “Service for Integrated Monitoring of Environmental Factors” (SIMEF) organises the database attached to integrated monitoring systems at county level by:  Collection and storage on a daily bases of data on the quality of environment sectors, as provided by the laboratory subordinated to each EPIs, as well as of the data and information provided by other departments of EPIs;  Collection and storage of data on the quality of environments factors, as received by fast and slow information flow channel or of data provided by the laboratories within the system of the National Water Company;  Recording status of waste as well as toxic and hazardous substances, classification of localities, categories, branches of activity, recovery opportunities in cooperation with the other bodies and the service for waste management and toxic substances.  Drawing up informative notes regarding unusual environment-related events with respect to the provision of information flow and their transmittal to superior authorities.

4. Current Status III Information dissemination - at central level: MWEP at local level: EPIs Use of environmental reporting in decision-making Usually, the data gathered is processed and at local level are elaborated reports regarding the State of Environment (by EPIs) and at central level is elaborated a National Report regarding the State of Environment (by ICIM and MWEP)

5. Tangible Developments & Progress I Objectives - - better information of the public and the stakeholders about the ministry (related bodies organization chart, objectives, activities, future targets) - the increase of IT resources and capabilities, in order to contribute to the development of the information system Expenditures ITEMSUM (Eur) Equipment18,200 Brochure and CD-Rom8,060 TOTAL26,260

6. Tangible Developments & Progress II Benefits - - it was realized a public environmental awareness campaign. This introduced the information system and services of the environment ministry to the media, conference and meeting attendants (including those at the World Summit on Sustainable Development), and many other stakeholders through the Environmental Protection Inspectorates. It produced a brochure and CD-Rom (in Romanian and English), that provided key contact information for bodies at all levels dealing with environmental issues; details on the transposition of environmental acquis; environmental programmes etc. Two thousand five hundred brochures and 1,500 CDs were produced. - The use of high quality telecommunications lines for Internet connectivity is thus enabling interaction of the MWEP with local Environmental Protection Inspectorates, other ministries, and with the outside world. At the same time, a new, interactive, website was also created at: http://www.mappm.ro/gardamediu where site visitors will have the possiblity can post environmental problems, suggestions, or legal violations they have witnessed. Issues raised are subsequently investigated, and responses or suggestions are posted online. The site also contains an Intranet for internal communications and a password-protected ‘action groups’ area.

7. Future Priorities As a result of the Romanian Government re-organisation, the Ministry of Waters and Environmental Protection became the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Waters and Environment. All the plans for for the National Environmental Information System will be re-assessed, taking into account the new bodies and new structure (with the available resources - financial and human, the functional relations between the relevant institutions).

8. Further Information…. Please contact Alberto Simion Address: 12 Libertatii Blvd, Bucharest Tel:+40.21.312.25.99 Fax:+40.21.335.00.67 Email:alberto@mappm.ro And please visit us at the exhibition!