Download Alps and Balkans: potentials for cooperation and common approach

Alps and Balkans:
potentials for cooperation and
common approach
M.A. Tanja Bogataj
Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning
Deputy director general of the Spatial Planning Directorate
and
Alpine Convention SI Presidency coordinator
Innsbruck, 27 April 2010
MINISTRSTVO ZA OKOLJE IN PROSTOR
Presentation - content:
– The wider context for cooperation and common
approach
– State of affairs of the environmental law and
cooperation, with the emphasis on the Dinaric Arc
region
– Proposals for cooperation and activities
MINISTRSTVO ZA OKOLJE IN PROSTOR
MINISTRSTVO ZA OKOLJE IN PROSTOR
MINISTRSTVO ZA OKOLJE IN PROSTOR
MINISTRSTVO ZA OKOLJE IN PROSTOR
The wider context for cooperation and common
approach
– Mountain regions and international mountain
partnership –characteristics;
– Alps – Alpine Convention and Balkans - Dinaric Arc
Region;
– Integrative approach for sustainable development,
territorial cooperation and territorial cohesion;
– the Slovenian Presidency of the Alpine Convention
Priority themes of the programme;
– EU enlargement process and harmonization with the
EU environmental standards and acquis;
MINISTRSTVO ZA OKOLJE IN PROSTOR
State of affairs of the environmental law and
cooperation - the emphasis on the Dinaric Arc
region
– Different state of affairs on environmental law:
• Contracting parties of the Alpine Convention
• Countries of Western Balkans;
• EU member states; candidate / non-candidate countries;
– EU enlargement process - EC Progress reports;
• WB countries: different dynamics and pace; improvement and preparation
in this field in different stages;
• Progress on normative level, less progress in actual implementation;
– DABEO process “Dinaric Arc and Balkans Environmental
Outlook process,
• launched by UNEP;
• will provide an integrated picture of environment state and trends in this
mountainous region;
MINISTRSTVO ZA OKOLJE IN PROSTOR
State of affairs of the environmental law and
cooperation - the emphasis on the Dinaric Arc
region
– Cooperation - Initiatives and projects:
• Joint Statement of the Dinaric Arc’s countries for joint
cooperation in implementing the obligations from the Biodiversity
Convention (CBD) - Dinaric Arc (2008),
• Joint Statement of high officials of the contracting parties of the
Sava River Basin (2007),
• Existing sectoral bilateral or multilateral agreements among
countries of the EU, countries of the Alpine Convention and
countries in the area of Dinaric Arc,
• The Dinaric Arc Initiative,
• The Dinaric Arc Ecoregion Project (DAE).
MINISTRSTVO ZA OKOLJE IN PROSTOR
SOME CRITICAL ISSUES:
– Low environmental standard, too slow process in some
countries;
– Poor legislation and/or implementation gap;
– Strong economic pressure for the development, not
necessarily in sustainable way;
– lack of environmental awareness and high tolerances
of illegal behavior;
– Insufficient administrative and institutional capacity;
– Lack of financial resources;
– Insufficient cooperation among institutions;
MINISTRSTVO ZA OKOLJE IN PROSTOR
Proposals for cooperation and common
activities
– Common problems / challenges for cooperation:
• Overcoming internal and external obstacles (political, cultural,
social, economic etc);
• To properly balance economic development with conservation of
globally significant natural resources; achieving sustainable
development of the mountain areas;
• Tackling development challenges: globalization, demographical
changes, climate changes, growth and jobs etc.;
• Exchange of knowledge and experiences, mutual learning and
understanding;
• Develop trust, partnership and environment for efficient
cooperation;
MINISTRSTVO ZA OKOLJE IN PROSTOR
Proposals for cooperation and common
activities
– Continuation with on-going initiatives and projects;
– Launching common policy and legal framework:
• So called: “Resolution for sustainable development of Dinaric Arc
and neighbor regions”;
• For, besides environmental law, also other implementation
instruments: joint projects, development of financial instruments,
networks, platforms, inclusion of residents, use of endogenous
resources as development potentials, twinning etc.;
• For improved natural protection and sustainable development
approach;
• Pull effect; positive effect between this process and the EU (pre-)
accession process;
MINISTRSTVO ZA OKOLJE IN PROSTOR
The Alpine Convention as a good practice
for Balkans - WHY?
– Global approach integrating the ecological, economic and social
dimensions; protection but under a development perspective
– A general obligation to pursue a policy of conservation and
intensified cooperation, in particular in 12 thematic areas:
• population and culture, land use, air quality, soil protection, water, nature
protection and landscape tending, mountain farming, mountain forests,
tourism, transport, energy, waste.
– A commitment on legal, scientific, economic and technical
cooperation; a common policy of research and observation;
– An institutional structure; efforts required at various levels: national,
regional and local; emphasis on the interests of the resident
population
– Implementation through:
•
•
•
Common projects in the political priority fields at European, national, regional and
local levels
Experience exchange and cooperation, in particular within the existing alpine
networks
Information and awareness raising of the public
MINISTRSTVO ZA OKOLJE IN PROSTOR
The Alpine Convention as a good practice
for Balkans - WHY?
– Mountain Regions are similar regarding the landscape,
natural resources and biodiversity, water reservoirs,
climate regulators, economic, social and cultural
functions;
– Mountain partnerships are a long term working priority
of the Alpine convention;
– Balkans is a priority area of cooperation;
– Existing good practices of cooperation on the basis of
the Alpine convention;
MINISTRSTVO ZA OKOLJE IN PROSTOR
The Alpine Convention as a good practice
for Balkans - WHY?
– Common themes or issues of common interest between
Alps and Dinaric Arc region, and among the Dinaric Arc
region countries as well, could be:
• sustainable development, climate change adaptation and
mitigation protection, environmental protection, natural
conservation, cooperation within the network of protected areas,
water management, spatial planning, transport, forests, energy
efficiency, natural hazards protection, indicators and monitoring,
research etc.;
- Alpine Convention has a technical and content
know-how to be transferred in this regard;
MINISTRSTVO ZA OKOLJE IN PROSTOR
Thank you for your attention .
M.A. Tanja Bogataj
Ministrstvo za okolje in prostor
Direktorat za prostor
Dunajska 21, SI – 1000 Ljubljana
Tel: ++386 1 478 70 12
Faks: ++386 1 478 70 10
[email protected]
MINISTRSTVO ZA OKOLJE IN PROSTOR