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Background | Analytical Reports | Side Events | Related Materials

 

Background   The 6th "Environment for Europe" (EfE) Ministerial Conference took place in Belgrade on 10-12 October 2007. It brought together some 2000 participants, including ministers and high-level delegates from 56 UNECE member states and the European Commission, representatives of the United Nations organisations, other intergovernmental organisations, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders. The Conference reviewed progress in implementing agreed commitments since the Kiev EfE Ministerial Conference in 2003.

It also covered subregional issues and assessed the need for additional measures in a number of areas such as environmental policy and international competitiveness, partnerships, sustainable production and consumption patterns, energy efficiency, biodiversity and education for sustainable development. The Environment Ministers also discussed the future of the "Environment for Europe" process, including the future of the EAP Task Force and OECD's support for it.

 

Analytical Reports to the Ministerial Conference

 

The EAP Task Force was established by Environment Ministers in Lucerne (Switzerland) in 1993, as part of the EfE process. Since then, the Task Force continues to be one of the major driving forces of the process. The following analytical reports provided basis for discussions at the Belgrade Ministerial Conference:

• Policies for a Better Environment: Progress in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) - a "flagship" report by the EAP Task Force. It will support a policy dialogue on EECCA countries performance in achieving the objectives of the EECCA Environment Strategy. 
• Guiding Principles of Effective Environmental Permitting Systems
• Mobilising Finance for Environmental Priorities: Recommendations for the Future - jointly prepared with PPC, Regional Environmental Centre for CEE countries and the World Bank
• Trends in Environmental Finance in EECCA countries
• Financing Water Supply and Sanitation Sector in EECCA countries, including progress in achieving water-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
• Translating Environmental Law into Practice: Progress in Modernising Environmental Regulation and Compliance Assurance in EECCA
• Progress Report on Partnerships in EECCA

 

Side Events at the Ministerial Conference

 

The EAP Task Force also organised several side events in the Belgrade Sava Center:

• A joint launch event to present three assessment reports prepared by the EAP Task Force (Policies for a Better Environment: Progress in EECCA), the European Environment Agency (Fourth Assessment Report) and the UNDP (Policy Assessment Report for South-Eastern Europe), 10 October, 13:00 to 14:30
• A EAP Task Force side event: Better Environmental Regulation: Making Law Work, 11 October, 13:00 to 15:00
• A joint EU Water Initiative / UNECE / EAP Task Force side event: The challenge of meeting the water-related MDGs in EECCA, October 11, 19:00 – 20:30

 

Related Materials

• Press Release - OECD urges former Soviet States to accelerate environmental reforms
• A booklet about the activities of the EAP Task Force in 2003-2007
• A catalogue of key publications of the EAP Task Force in 2003-2007

 

For more information on the Conference and different side events visit: http://www.efe-belgrade2007.org/