Villu Reiljan, Minister of the Environment, met this afternoon with Margot Wallström, Commissioner for the Environment of the European Commission, who is controlling Estonian preparedness on environmental issues pre-accession to European Union. Minister Reiljan thanked the European Commission for the remarkable material help Estonia received during pre-accession and added that all possible action will be taken to find measures for Estonian self-financing for raising our environmental infrastructure up to modern level. Also, Minister confirmed the wish to continue the LIFE programme with what nature protection projects are being funded. Minister Reiljan noted significant raising environmental awareness of the Estonian public, to what contribute television programmes with environmental themes on three Estonian TV channels and financing many educational undertakings in counties with the care of the Environmental Investment Centre. Margot Wallström appealed to Minister`s conscience to make efforts in harmonizing some Estonian acts with EU legislation. She named the Waste, Packaging, Nature Protection, Air Protection and Water Protection Acts. Also, she showed interest in the execution of the Sustainable Estonia 2001 programme. According to the EC Commissioner for the Environment, her purpose during visits is to get an overview of preparedness of the accession countries and to offer help, if needed, so that all countries could fulfil high environmental demands. “We want to be absolutely sure that we are ready for the enlargement”, said Wallström at the meeting with the Minister of the Environment. EC Commissioner stressed, among other things, Estonian accomplishments in reducing illegal forest cutting. Minister Villu Reiljan explained briefly the current Estonian political situation to the Commissioner, noting that at the moment coalition parties are making proposals for resolving differences. |
