EU ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENT. EXPERIENCE OF SLOVENIA
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Transcript of EU ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENT. EXPERIENCE OF SLOVENIA
24 February 2012, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Janez Podobnik
Director
International ECPD Institute for Sustainable Development, Urban Planning and Environmental Studies
POINTS TO BE DISCUSSED
Adaptation of Slovenian Environmental legislature during the EU Accession period
Environmental situation in Slovenia after (8 years) joining the EU
Conclusions
ABOUT ECPD Located in Ljubljana,
Slovenia – an EU and NATO member state
Established in 2009 Part of the European Centre
for Peace and Development (ECPD) which is a part of the United Nations University for Peace
ECPD has headquarters in Belgrade and an academic council in Paris
ABOUT ICPE•The International Center for Promotion of Enterprises (ICPE) is an intergovernmental organization, with its headquarters in Slovenia set up on a United Nations initiative in 1974
• 18 member countries from Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is an active member as well as our newest member state, Angola
•ICPE is mandated to pursue and promote international cooperation in areas related to the transfer of technology, sustainable entrepreneurship and promotion of knowledge-based societal change through research, training, consultancy an information services in these fields
•Since the ICPE’s establishment in 1974, many joint projects have been undertaken with regional and national chambers of industry and commerce as well as universities, private and public enterprises and other institutions around the world, including in countries outside the ICPE’s membership.
AUTHOR’S EXPERIENCE WITH INTERNATIONAL (POLITICAL) ACTIVITIES
PROFESSONAL CAREER
1985-1990 – Medical doctor at the ambulance stations in Cerkno and Idrija 1990-1992 – Mayor of Idrija 1992-1996 – Member of the first National Assembly of the Republic o Slovenia 1994 -1998 – Mayor of Cerkno 1996-2000 – Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia 2000-2004 – Member of the third National Assembly of the Republic of
Slovenia 2000-2004 – Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe 2002-2004 – Observer in the European Parliament for the Republic of Slovenia 2004 – Member of the European Parliament 2004-2008 – Minister for Environment and Spatial Planning in the
Government of the Republic of Slovenia First half of 2008 – President of the European Council of European
environment ministers during Slovenia's presidency of the European Council
April 2009 to present – Director of the ECPD International Institute for Sustainable Development, Urban Planning and Environmental Studies in Ljubljana
January 2012 to present – Special advisor to the Director-General of the International Center for Promotion of Enterprises in Ljubljana
COOPERATION BETWEEN ECPD/ICPE AND RCCCooperation in common activities with ICPE
ICPE/ECPD – ICAM Conference: Integrated Coastal Area Management of the Adriatic/Mediterranean-Black Sea Coastal Areas and the Danube/Sava River Basins, 10.-11.november 2010 (active participation by Mag. Miroslav Kukobat, Head of Infrastructure and Energy Unit, Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat)
Visit of Mr Podobnik to the headquarters of RCC in Spring 2010
Established permanent linksBSF – Bled Strategic Forum (contacts with RCC’s
Ms. Jelica Minić, RCC Head of Expert Pool)Representatives of SECI Vienna
FACTS ABOUT SLOVENIA•Population: 2,050,189 (2011 est.)
•GDP per capita: $25,939 -19,653€ (2011 est.)
•GDP PPP(purchasing power parity):total: $58.979 billion; per capita- $29,179 – 22,108€ (2011 est.)
•211 Municipalities – 11 of them are Urban Municipalities
•New government, elected on 4. December 2011 reduced the number of ministries from 18 to 12
•Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food are now joined into Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment, without Spatial Planning, which is now a part of the Ministry for Infrastructure and Spatial Planning
TIMELINE OF SLOVENIA’S ACCESSION TO EU
Source: www.evropa.gov.si
SLOVENIA’S NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EU - ENVIRONMENTThree key findings on Slovenian pre-EU
accession negotiations regarding environment:1. The key role of the National Parliament with
the transfer of European environmental law to the national environmental legislation (with a special role of the parliamentary committee on environment) Slovenian National Assembly had to adopt 8 laws to harmonize with environmental policies of European Union.
2. State, local communities, economy and the ordinary citizen already act on the principles of EU environmental legislation before the formal conclusion of negotiations
3. Environmental policies as development policies since they bring new jobs, new technologies, support sustainable development and social responsibility
SLOVENIA’S NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EU IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENT Slovenia was the first country among 10 candidate
countries to successfully finish negotiations in the field of environment
Slovenia negotiated three transitory periods:1. Waste water management (until 2015)2. Industrial pollution (until 2011)3. Waste packaging management (until 2007)
The key European directive for improvements in Slovenian industrial pollution management is the IPPC – Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control
Slovenia accepted as its obligatory accession commitment the inclusion into Natura 2000.
SLOVENIA’S NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EU IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENT - IPCCIPPC – Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control
One of the key EU directives in the field of environment It introduces integrated environment authorizations and
permits, it demands the introduction of best techniques available on prevention of pollution transfer
Slovenia transferred the directive in its law order – Law on protection of environment and the Regulation on activities and facilities that may cause a large-scale environment degradation
Due to very complicated procedure, Slovenia implemented the Directive with more than one year delay (it was also brought into a procedure before the EU Court of Justice in Luxembourg)
SLOVENIA’S NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EU IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENT – NATURA 2000 NATURA 2000 includes the implementation of two
European directives:1. Habitats directive2. Birds directive
286 Natura 2000 protection designated areas (36 % of the country – the largest % among EU member states)
Operative Programme on Management of Areas under Natura2000 (2007 – 2013)
Natura2000 entered Slovenian environmental legislation: law on protection of nature, government regulation on designation of protection areas
Active role of local communities (Slovenia currently has 212 local communities: Slovenia established a strong movement of eco-schools and eco-kindergardens)
SLOVENIA’S NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EU - ENVIRONMENTSlovenia’s way for successful
environment policy and legislation negotiations with the EU:1. Active inclusion of the
environmental professionals and the academic sphere (who were part of the negotiating team)
2. Active involvement of environmental NGOs
3. Environment as a common point for all political parties in the Parliament
SLOVENIA’S NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EUThe EU’s Acquis Communautaire had to be
imported in the Slovenian law framework by the Slovenian Parliament
Slovenia negotiated prolongation of its status as a EU-funds receipt-countryPart of the 4th financial perspective (entry to the EU
2004 until 2006)the 5th financial perspective (2007-2013) although it
surpassed the development criteria
Importance of pre-accession financial instrumentsPHARE (1992-2003) 339 mio. EURSAPARD (2000-2003) 26 mio. EURISPA (2000-2003) 84 mio. EUR
Pre-accession financial instrument for Environmental issues - ISPAsigned to address environmental and transport
infrastructure priorities identified in the Accession Partnerships with the 10 applicant countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
Purpose: enhance economic and social cohesion in the applicant countries of Central & Eastern Europe for the period 2000-2006.
Only financed major environmental and transport infrastructure projects
Comes under the remit of the Directorate General for Regional Policy
SLOVENIA’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES – 8 YEARS AFTER THE EU ACCESSIONMembership in the EU forced Slovenia to act decisively
on a wide field of environmentally-oriented issuesSlovenia has wisely and successfully used the European funds
for implementation of its environment protection projects
The quality of life in Slovenian cities has improved dramatically1. All Slovenian cities - with exception of Nova Gorica – have
modern, operating waste treatment plants. 2. Numerous smaller towns and villages are deciding to
construct biological waste treatment plants3. More than 90% od Slovenian citizens have access to clean
drinking water from public pipelines4. The quality of Slovenian rivers and streams has improved due
to construction of new waste treatment plants and strict implementation of the IPPC directive
5. Improved air quality in Slovenian cities (although Slovenia still has problems with PM-10 air particles – due to heavy transport)
6. More than 50 Mwatts of photovoltaic instalations
SLOVENIA’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AFTER THE ACCESSION TO THE EUMembership in the environmentally-aware EU has
brought Slovenia the need and obligation to SYSTEMATICALLY include the PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT in its management of ECONOMY and SOCIAL RELATIONS.
Membership in the EU has made Slovenia realize that it is necessary to shift away from the race to reach the EU15 European economic indicators
Slovenia has realized it is still one of moderately polluted countries of the EU27, with an exquisite biodiversity – this can be an advantage in the future!
SLOVENIA’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AFTER THE ACCESSION TO THE EUSLOVENIA IS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING
IN EU FUNDS USAGE4.2 billion EUR (EU funds + national contribution)for the period 2007 - 2013
ERDF: 1.76 billion EUR
ESF: 755 million EUR
ECF: 1.57 billion EUR
Operational Programme of Environment and Transport Infrastructure Development 2007-2013 - Contractors
Municipalities (projects in the field of waste management, waste water treatment, drinking water supply)
Ministry of the Environment and Agriculture (projects in the field of flood safety and sustainable use of energy and renewable energy)
Allocation of funds for priority regional development potentials:2007-2013, by regions
RegionNumber of inhabitants
2007-2013EUR part
EUR per inhabitant
Goriška 119.541 40.282.629 6,88 336,98
Gorenjska 198.713 59.319.058 10,13 298,52
Obalno-kraška 105.313 31.181.467 5,32 296,08
Osrednje-slovenska 498.378 15.657.194 2,67 31,42
Pomurska 122.483 70.194.294 11,98 573,09
Notranjsko-kraška 51.132 23.328.479 3,98 456,24
Podravska 319.282 133.998.779 22,87 419,69
Spodnjeposavska 69.940 29.352.452 5,01 419,68
Zasavska 45.468 18.598.385 3,17 409,04
Koroška 73.905 27.595.505 4,71 373,39
JV Slovenija 139.434 50.928.355 8,69 365,25
Savinjska 257.525 85.401.555 14,58 331,62
Altogether 2.001.114 585.838.151 100,00 292,76
SLOVENIA’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AFTER THE ACCESSION TO THE EU
EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND
Tourism infrastructure of the Škocjan Caves Park
Renovation and modernisation of mountain refuges
SLOVENIA’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AFTER THE ACCESSION TO THE EU
EUROPEAN COHESION FUND
Celje regional waste treatment centre
Water supply system for the Banjščica plateau
Waste treatment plants in municipalities along the Savinja river
SLOVENIA’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AFTER THE ACCESSION TO THE EUthe EU Commission started 61 procedures
against Slovenia due to various breaches of EU legislation and policies in different fields
(waste management, water pollution, industrial pollution, air quality)
Slovenia faced three charges from the EU Court of Justice
Slovenia accepted the new Strategy of Development of Slovenia until 2013 – the strategy emphasizes sustainable development as one of the key priorities of Slovenian development
SLOVENIA’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIESSLOVENIA’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
INDICATORSWELL-BEING BALANCE AND MODESTY INTERGENERATIONAL
COOPERATIONQUALITY OF NATURAL
RESOURCES:
AIR QUALITY
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
ORGANIC FARMING
ECONOMIC GROWTH
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
SAFETY
LABOUR FORCE
ACCESS TO SOCIAL
PROTECTION
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE
ACCESS TO EDUCATION
CRIME
NATURAL RESOURCES
CONSUMPTION
WATER CONSUMPTION FROM PUBLIC
WATER SUPPLY
MUNICIPAL AND FOOD WASTE
GENERATION
PASSENGER TRANSPORT.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
EXPENDITURE ON DEVELOPMENT
POPULATION, GENDER EQUALITY AND
POVERTY
TOTAL INCREASE OF POPULATION
EARNINGS OF MEN AND WOMEN
AT-RISK-OF-POVERTY RATE
INTENSITY OF USE OF NATURAL
RESOURCES
ENERGY INTENSITY
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
CONSUMPTION OF MINERAL
FERTILISERS IN AGRICULTURE
INTENSITY OF WOOD REMOVALS
GOVERNMENT DEBT
GOVERNMENT DEBT
CARE FOR ALL GENERATIONS
THE AGE DEPENDENCY
CHILDCARE
CARE FOR THE ELDERLY
Green=Field of environment, Purple=Economy, Orange=Social Policy
Slovenian Experiences on Climate Change in practice
Platform “Slovenia reduces CO2 “ In 2010, 6 panel discussions took place live
and over the internet at the same time2011, expansion of the platform to promote
good practices Launched programme, called
“Environmentally Efficient State Administration”
Slovenian Experiences on Climate Change in practiceEnvironmental measures, including energy
accounting, are being introduced in office operations of all governmental bodies
Programme for the introducion of battery powered electric vehicles in Slovenia
Subsidies for purchase of new vehicles, introduction of charging stations to public parking areas, etc.
SLOVENIA’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES Key role of the Ministry for Environment and Spatial Planning and
Ministry for Agriculture (in 2012 merged in a single Ministry for Environment and Agriculture without jurisdiction for Spatial Planning, which is now a part of Ministry for Infrastructure and Spatial Planning)
Guidelines were prepared by the NCSD – The National Council for Sustainable Development
IMAD – Institute for Macroeconomic Analysis and Development – monitors the NCSD’s work and results
Slovenia’s environmental policies must follow the EU Strategy
for Sustainable Development – Slovenia prepared annual national reports
EU Directive on renewable energy sources demands from Slovenia to increase its renewable energy source share in electricity production from 30% to 36%
Slovenia puts much emphasis on water protection – Slovenia accepted its comprehensive Law on protection of waters in 2002
SLOVENIA’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIESSlovenia heavily promotes the social responsibility
of enterprises – UN Global Compact Network Slovenia (includes 37 enterprises)
Societal interest groups: Social partners in the tripartite Social Agreement 2007-2009 defined sustainable development as one of the key areas for future competitiveness of Slovenian economy
Impact of more than 120 NGOs from the field of environment in Slovenia (nation-wide environmental action Let’s Clean Slovenia 2010)
CONCLUSIONS - Questions1. Can the EU environmental policy (low-carbon society
initiative) remain the key engine of European sustainability concept despite the economic crisis?
2. Can a responsible and coherent EU policy in the field of climate change mitigation and adaptation survive globally in the ‘’post-Kyoto years’’?
3. Is it true for the member countries of the RCC that solving environmental problems brings new jobs, new technologies, new knowledge and new connections between countries (such as EU Danube Strategy, International Sava River Basin Agreement, Black Sea Agreement)?
4. Can environmental topics bring cooperation in the national parliaments, can they increase the interest of the youth for politics?
5. Can large-scale environmental projects bring interest of international financial institutions and actors?
CONCLUSIONS - Answers
1. The approach to the low-carbon society must remain fundamental to the European environmental policies due to our responsibility for future generations
2. Europe must insist as a global leader in new environmental policy approach but not at the price of losing competitiveness from countries that do not adapt (China, India)
3. The RCC countries can use the new EU holistic approach to the development problems in the region, which has been offered to them in the form of the new EU Danube Strategy
4. Numerous practical cases and research affirm that environmental topics increase the interest of citizens for politics and political issues, especially among the younger generations
5. International financial institutions tend to strongly support larger infrastructural, energy, and environmental projects, with a special emphasis on sustainable approach.
THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!YOUR ATTENTION!
Janez PodobnikJanez Podobnik
[email protected]@ecpd.si
Director Special Advisor to Director-General