Mr. Villu Reiljan, Minister of the Environment, introduced the agreements signed at the Fifth Conference of Ministers of the Environment "Environment for Europe" last week as well as their implications for Estonia. The "Environment for Europe" process was initiated in 1991 at a conference held in the Czech Republic. According to Mr. Reiljan, this was the first meeting of environmental ministers from both West and East Europe for discussing ways for improvement of the environmental situation in Central and Eastern Europe. Following the meeting, the Environmental Action Programme for Central and Eastern Europe was compiled. To date, this programme has been completed according to Mr. Allan Gromov, Vice Chancellor of the Ministry of the Environment, and Estonia is on its way to becoming a member state of the European Union. According to the Protocol on Civil Liability and Compensation for Damage Caused by the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents on Transboundary Waters /to the 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes and to the 1992 Convention on the Transbound Effects of Industrial Accidents/, signed in Kiev by 22 countries, the state that has caused pollution of a transboundary watercourse must provide compensation for the damage. The international rates of penalties are listed in the Annex to the Protocol. According to Mr. Harry Liiv, Vice Chancellor on Environmental Management, the transboundary watercourses between Estonia and Russia may potentially be threatened by the enterprises of Slantsõ and Pskov (Pihkva). "Through this Protocol, we would be protected against potential threats and we would be entitled to receive compensation. Unfortunately, Russia has not signed this Protocol to date. Consequently, we will need to continue cooperation with Russia in the framework of a bilateral agreement on transboundary water bodies, however, this does not secure any compensation for damage," said Mr. Liiv. The Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Register /to the 1998 Århus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters/ was signed in Kiev by 34 countries. The Protocol aims at the establishment of national registers concerning the release and transfer of polluting substances that would be accessible to the public. The register would provide information on the use of hazardous substances by different industrial enterprises. For instance, if someone is interested in the quantity of some especially hazardous substance used in Estonia, an overview concerning this will easily be obtained through the register. The register will also enable to monitor the trends of using hazardous substances - i.e. whether their use is being reduced. The Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment /to the 1991 Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context/ was signed in Kiev by 33 countries. The aim of this Protocol is identification of the potential environmental impact of (development) plans and programmes in the earliest possible stage of decision-making. According to the Protocol, environmental and environmental health aspects should be considered at the development of any plans and programmes and in all sectors of economy. For example, if compilation of a marine transport development plan would be initiated, this should certainly be subject to strategic environmental assessment as a number of methods exist for promoting the sustainability of marine transport - from the use of fuels to the processing of bilge waters," said Mr. Liiv. The Conference of Environmental Ministers "Environment for Europe" was the fifth of its kind. A total of 55 countries participated in this event. The next meeting of ministers of the environment will be held in four to five years. For additional information please contact: |
