Download Inventory B

Baltic Sea Region
Defence Environmental
Co-operation
(BALTDEC)
2003-10-10
Riga Initiative
INVENTORY B
(Corresponding to Informal Secretariat – Organisation and Work Plan 2002-2003 action 3.4 b)
DEFENCE ENVIRONMENTAL MULTILATERAL COOPERATION IN NON BALTIC SEA REGION

The purpose of this inventory is to clarify already existing co-operation and to examine ways
of BALTDEC co-operation with and take advantage of already existing structures. The
purpose is also to ensure there is no duplication of work

Based on such an inventory, IS shall consider in what way BALTDEC could or should cooperate with these bodies. Could or should BALTDEC be (more or less) integrated into one
already existing co-operation body? What solution would be most beneficial for the
BALTDEC purposes as stated in the Strategy?
1. NATO CCMS
The Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society (CCMS) was established in 1969
The aim: -to attack practical problems already under study at the national level and, by
combining the expertise and technology available in member countries, arrive fairly rapidly at
valid conclusions and to make recommendations for actions to benefit all.
Involved countries:
NATO countries:
Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United
States.
EAPC countries:
Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Georgia,
Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kyrghyz Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Romania, Russian
Federation, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.
Areas of co-operation:
 Pollution control
 Environmental education and training
 Health and technological risks
 Quality of life and planning
Since the start of CCMS activities more than 50 pilot studies have been completed; at present
there are 18 projects underway. One of the most important advantages of CCMS is the fact that it
is a unique forum for discussion of environmental problems relating to military activities.
Basic documents: Reports on the progress of studies are submitted to the Committee by pilot
countries at regular intervals. On completion of a study (which normally takes three to four
years) a summary report is submitted to the Committee members and then forwarded to the North
Atlantic Council. A technical report is usually also published by the pilot group and made
available on a worldwide basis to anyone expressing interest. The list of publications available
can be obtained from CCMS Secretariat.
More information: http://www.nato.int/ccms/
2. UNEP
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was established in 1972.
The aim: To provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by
inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without
compromising that of the future generations.
Involved countries: Antigua and Barbuda ** , Argentina **, Bahamas * , Belgium **, Benin *,
Brazil *, Burkina Faso *, Canada **, Chad **, China **, Colombia *, Congo **, Cuba **, Czech
Republic **, Denmark *, Egypt *, Equatorial Guinea *, France **, Gambia *, Germany **,
Greece **, India *, Indonesia **, Iran (Islamic Republic of) *, Italy *, Japan **, Kenya **, Libya
*, Marshall Islands *, Mexico *, Myanmar **, Namibia **, Netherlands *, New Zealand *,
Nicaragua **, Nigeria **, Pakistan *, Poland *, Republic of Korea **, Republic of Moldova *,
Romania **, Russian Federation **, Samoa *, Saudi Arabia *, Senegal *, Slovakia *, Sudan **,
Suriname *, Switzerland **, Syrian Arab Republic **, Thailand *, Turkey *, Uganda *, United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland *, United States of America **, Uruguay **,
Zambia **, Zimbabwe **
* Members whose terms expire on 3l December 2003.
** Members whose terms expire on 3l December 2005.
Areas of co-operation: activities cover a wide range of issues, from atmosphere and terrestrial
ecosystems, the promotion of environmental science and information, to an early warning and
emergency response capacity to deal with environmental disasters and emergencies. UNEP’s
present priorities include:
 Environmental information, assessment and research, including environmental emergency
response capacity and strengthening of early warning and assessment functions,
 Enhanced coordination of environmental conventions and development and development
of policy instruments;
 Fresh water
 Technology transfer and industry
 Support to Africa
UNEP at some occasions arrange or co-sponsor defence environmental activities. One example is
the Sweden hosted Meeting on Military Activities and the Environment 27-30 June 1995 in
Linköping, Sweden.
Basic documents: UNEP Annual Reports
More information: http://www.unep.org
3. EU
The European Union was set up after the 2nd World War. The process of European integration
was launched in 1950 when France proposed to create “the first concrete foundation of a
European federation”. Six countries joined from the very beginning. Today, after four waves of
accessions the EU has 15 Member States and is preparing for the accession of 13 eastern and
southern European countries.
The aim: The European Union is based on the rule of law and democracy. It is neither a new
State replacing existing ones nor is it comparable to other international organisations. Its Member
States delegate sovereignty to common institutions representing the interests of the Union as a
whole on questions of joint interest. All decisions and procedures are derived from the basic
treaties ratified by the Member States. The principal objectives of the EU are
 Establish European citizenship
 Ensure freedom, security and justice
 Promote economic and social progress
 Assert Europe’s role in the world
The EU is run by five institutions;
 European Parliament
 Council of the Union
 European Commission
 Court of Justice
 Court of Auditors
Involved countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland,
Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Areas of co-operation regarding military issues:
(1) EU has decided to establish a military crises management capability. However, this does not
include defence environmental issues.
(2) In June 2001, the EU Member States’ Ministries of Defence established an informal expertlevel forum for co-operation between the Ministries of Defence on environmental and sustainable
development issues with specific military relevance. This network assembles twice a year,
preferably under the Chairmanship of the Ministry of Defence in the Member State holding the
EU Presidency. At its meeting in April 2003, the network agreed upon a Framework (Terms of
Reference) for its work and to name itself DEFNET (European Union Member States’ Ministries
of Defence Environmental Network).
Basic documents: The EU is based on four founding treaties.
 Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (signed 1951)
 Treaty establishing the European Economic Community
 Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (signed 1957)
 Treaty on European Union (signed 1992)
Additional treaties are for example
 Treaty of Amsterdam (signed 1997)
 Treaty of Nice (signed 2001)
More information:http://europa.eu.int
4. OSCE
The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the largest regional security
organisation in the world with 55 participating states from Europe, Central Asia and North
America.
Aim: The aim of OSCE is to be active in early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management
and post-conflict rehabilitation
Involved countries: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgum, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monako,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovac
Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America,
Uzbekistan, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation (MPCs): Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco,
Tunisia.
Areas of co-operation: The OSCE approach to security is comprehensive in dealing with a wide
range of security-related issues including:
 Arms control
 Preventive diplomacy
 Confidence- and security-building measures
 Human rights
 Democratisation
 Election monitoring
 Economic security
 Environmental security
All OSCE participating States have equal status, and decisions are based on consensus.
The OSCE headquarters are located in Vienna, Austria.
Basic documents: Journals and Decisions issued by the Permanent Council and the Forum for
Security Co-operation are posted under their respective heading on weekly basis.
 OSCE Handbook
 OSCE Annual Reports starting from 1993
More information: http://www.osce.org