The voluntary agreement was signed by Minister of the Environment Jaanus Tamkivi and Tõnis Meriste, Chairman of the Board of the EAEM. The agreement sets out the obligations of the two parties to implement measures encouraging companies to better protect the environment by reducing the negative impact on the environment of their operations. For example, the association promises to motivate its members to adopt the best possible technology to maximise environmental friendliness. The Ministry of the Environment is undertaking to keep the EAEM informed of environmental legal acts affecting its operations. The ministry will also involve representatives of the association in the development of such legal acts and in the running of the Environmental Activist of the Year competition. The initiative for the signing of the voluntary agreement came from the EAEM. “The members of our association represent a diverse range of fields, all of which are closely related to the environment,” Meriste explained. “Protection of the environment is important to them, and they all want to be kept informed of legislation related to it as quickly and professionally as possible. This kind of information is of real importance to companies in their planning and implementation of protection measures.” Minister Tamkivi praised the companies for the attention they are looking to turn to protection and their intention to adopt measures to prevent damage to the environment. “Working together and understanding one another are of great importance if we really want to be environmentally friendly,” he said, “and the agreement we have entered into is a sign of that.” Immediately after the signing it was agreed that the ministry would provide the EAEM with an overview of planned environmental legislation in order for their cooperation to begin. The EAEM is a non-profit umbrella organisation for companies operating in the energy, construction, electronics and agricultural industries. Its active members are AS Kunda Nordic Tsement, AS Eesti Raudtee, AS YIT Ehitus, AS EKSEKO, AS Eesti Energia, ELLE OÜ, AS Tallinna Vesi, Cleanaway Eesti AS, AS Tallinna Sadam, Langham OÜ, Bureau Veritas Eesti OÜ, the State Forest Management Centre, Maxit Estonia AS, AS IRBISTERO, OÜ J. R. Technoconsult, AS Teede REV-2, AS Rakvere Lihakombinaat, Elcoteq Tallinn AS, Stoneridge Electronics AS, AS Enprima Estivo, Det Norske Veritas Eesti OÜ, Tallinna Prügila AS and VSA Eesti AS. The Ministry of the Environment has entered into voluntary agreements with a number of companies and organisations in the past, notably those with AS Kunda Nordic Tsement, OÜ Eesti Pandipakend and the Estonian Association of the Chemical Industry. For further information please contact: Agnes Jürgens |
