EU ACCESSION
PROCESS
ECENA Plenary Meeting
Zagreb January 2006
Carmen Falkenberg Ambrosio - European Commission
Enlargement Process
Countries at different stages:
- Acceding countries:
Accession Treaty
- Candidate countries:
-Negotiations opened with HR, TK
- not yet with MK
- Potential candidates: SAP
-SAAs in force (HR, MK)
- others under negotiation (AL, SCG, BIH to start 25/1)
Developments
25 October 2005: Comprehensive Monitoring Reports on
Bulgaria's and Romania's preparations for EU accession
adopted by the Commission.
9 November 2005: progress reports on Turkey, Croatia,
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and
Montenegro adopted by the Commission.
9 November 2005: Opinion on the Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia adopted by the Commission.
December 2005 European Council: the Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia is granted candidate status
Previous Enlargement
Adoption of the acquis in environment
was a major challenge:
– Legislative
more than 200 pieces of legislation; over 140
Directives
need to transpose AND implement
– Institutional
– Financial
Institutional Challenges in
Accession countries
Administrative structure – ministries, local and
regional bodies, and enforcement/inspection
agents
Inter-ministerial cooperation
Involvement of stakeholders, including private
sector, NGOs, and … citizens
 All needed strengthening in accession
countries
Results of enlargement
Alignment with EU standards
nearly 100% transposition of EU legislation
Administrative reinforcement (inspectorates,
agencies, monitoring systems, …)
Implementation plans with financing strategies
Improving and developing environmental
infrastructure
Main environment policy sectors
“Horizontal” Legislation (EIA, SEA, etc)
Air Quality
Water
Waste
Nature Protection
Industrial Pollution Control
Key legislation adopted in 2003
Directives:
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
Access to Environmental Information and Public
Participation (Aarhus Convention)
Quality of Petrol and Diesel Fuels
Emission Trading
Amendment to Seveso II
Key legislation adopted in 2004
Directives:
Packing and Packaging Waste
Environmental Liability
Monitoring Mechanisms on Greenhouse Gas
Emissions
Linking Directive on Climate Change
Regulation:
Incorporation of the POPs convention into
community legislation
Key directives under
discussion
Quality of bathing water (2nd reading agreement in Oct. 2005)
Revision of the Regulation of the Shipment of
Waste (2nd reading agreement in Oct. 2005)
Access to Justice (third element in the Aarhus
Convention)
Protection of groundwater against pollution
Review of Community Legislation on
Chemicals (REACH)
Batteries and Accumulators
Mining waste (Text agreed by European Parliament and Council in
December 2005)
Legal enforcement aspects
22% of all infringements of the Commission in
2005 concerned environment
Of open cases, in September 2005:
–
–
–
–
–
–
36 % nature protection
18 % waste
17 % environmental impact assessment
10 % water
9 % air
10 % others
Environment Policy:
Thematic strategies
Clean Air for Europe (adopted)
Protect and conserve the marine
environment (adopted)
Soil protection
Sustainable use of pesticides
Waste prevention and recycling (adopted)
Sustainable use of natural resources
(adopted)
Urban environment (adopted)
Final Remarks
Challenges similar to those of the previous
enlargement
Environmental policy and legislation are
moving targets
Funding presently from CARDS, future
funding still to be decided (financial
parspectives under discussion)