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ANNUAL REPORT

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A new perspectiveA new perspecpectivtivee

ANNUAL REPORT 2007 A New Perspective

CHAIRMAN’ S MESSAGE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’ S REPORT FINANCIAL INFORMATION

COMPENDIUM OF REC PROJECTS BOARD, GENERAL ASSEMBLY, STAFF AND JUNIOR FELLOWS

There was a continuing awareness in 2007 of the severe environmental and social impactsof current consumption and production patterns. A few wealthy countries are rapidly usingup the world’s non-renewable resources while exploiting the resources of poorer nations,and the planet is being polluted with badly managed waste. While recent technologicaldevelopments have improved energy efficiency, they have been outweighed by increasedconsumption: global consumption levels are already five times what they were 50 years ago.

Viewed from the right perspective, opportunities for achieving sustainability –– that is,for creating economic growth while protecting the environment and ensuring social justice–– exist throughout a product’s lifecycle. Implemented at regional level, REC projects arekeeping the focus on the safe and responsible extraction of resources, sustainable productionand consumption, and effective waste management. Use the glasses provided with this year’sannual report to see a new dimension to the issue of sustainability!


Working out the environmental impactWorking out the environmental impact of the food we buy is more complex than calculating “food miles”. Production, processing, packaging,storage, purchcasing and waste disposal also need to be part of the picture. Trying to cheat the climate by importing or growing fruit and vegetables out of seasonis contributing to climate change: but it is also worth bearing in mind that driving 11 kilometres to buy your shopping emits more carbon than flying a pack of Kenyangreen beans to Europe, while those same beans, grown with animal fertiliser and low-tech irrigation systems, might be more carbon friendly than local vegetablesproduced with diesel-fuelled tractors and chemical fertilisers.

Developing countries are often big exportersDeveloping countries are often big exporters of food, while their own populations suffer from hunger and malnutrition.Local growers are paid a fraction of what supermarkets charge for imported produce, while cash crops strip the soil of nutrients, leaving it prone to erosionand desertification and vulnerable to the worst effects of climate change. In Latin America and the Caribbean, more than 10 percent of the region’ s populationsuffer from hunger, yet this region is the world’ s biggest exporter of food. The problem is not lack of production capacity but poor distribution of food.

Meanwhile, even locally grownMeanwhile, even locally grown organic food can be preserved for months by refrigeration, which requires energy. Shopping locally forwhat is grown locally in season may be the only way to make sure we are doing the least possible damage to our environment.

The cultivation of pearsThe cultivation of pears goes back some 4,000 years. They probably originate in the Caucasus region, from where they spread to Europe and Asia.Pear trees can survive temperatures of -30 degrees Celsius, so there are few climates in which the tree cannot be grown. However, in Europe we rely onexports from South America and China. The number of pear varieties growing in Britain rose from 64 in 1640 to over 700 by the late nineteenth century.However, nearly half of Britain’ s pear orchards have been destroyed since 1970 and certain pear species have disappeared altogether. The Conference pearaccounts for over 90 percent of commercial production and four-fifths of the pears sold in Britain are imported. The US is a net exporter of pears, although thereare no native American varieties. Pear exports account for around 30 percent of production, while at the same time imports of pears out of season are growing.South Australia exports fresh pears, although pears grow naturally in much colder climates than Australia since a severe winter chill is needed to break dormancy.Varieties needing high chill are grown in warmer districts with the aid of chemicals such as Cyanamide.

Consuming our fair shareConsuming our fair share

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE


n line with its strategy and mission, the Regional Environmental Center’sefforts towards sustainable development and environmental protectionwere reinforced in 2007 in response to international and regional needsand according to the possibilities of its beneficiary and donor countries.

Besides traditional services such as NGO support and environmental policy activities, the REC mobilisedand strengthened new skills in the areas of environment and security, education for sustainable development,and sustainable production and consumption (SCP). Activities related to SCP were carried out in the broaderfield of transition towards sustainable consumption both in the private and the public sectors, focusingparticularly on behavioural change and new lifestyles and sustainable public procurement. In terms ofeducational activities, the continuation of the unique Course for Sustainability, aimed at high-levelgovernment officials in the region, was a key element in the REC’s capacity-building work. The fourthcourse in the series was successfully delivered in 2007.

Our most important input was to the Sixth Ministerial Conference “Environment for Europe”, held inBelgrade in October 2007, where we presented several official and background documents. Category 1 paperson environmental financing, climate change, and clean fuels and vehicles; category 2 papers on multilateralenvironmental agreements, municipal investments, and financial trends in South Eastern Europe (SEE);and a joint statement on environmental education contributed to the success of this important event.During the three-day conference numerous side events and presentations were organised by our experts.

In 2007, REC started to develop a dialogue with the European Parliament, furthered by its first presentationto members of the European Parliament (MEPs). Several MEPs and senior-level officials from governmentand business attended the presentation, which was organised under the patronage of Stavros Dimas,European commissioner for the environment. The event was opened by Nikolaos Sifunakis, chairman of theCommittee on Culture and Education for the European Parliament. This presentation introduced not onlythe Green Pack but the wider work of the Regional Environmental Center and the organisation itself.

Also in January, the REC hosted the meeting “Supporting Local Initiatives in SEE (LISEE)”, aimed atdeveloping a package of services and products. The goal of the initiative is to support local sustainabledevelopment initiatives, strengthen local institutions and enhance the speed of institutional reforms in localcommunities in order to get closer to reaching the related Millennium Development Goals.

Spring 2007 marked the tenth anniversary of the REC’s establishment in Bosnia and Herzegovina.To celebrate, the REC’s Country Office Bosnia and Herzegovina organised a festive event in the Parliamentbuilding in Sarajevo.

In May, the Embassy of the Republic of Hungary in the United Kingdom and the REC organiseda discussion on the theme “The EU — a pilot for sustainability? The transition of Central and EasternEurope as a regional and global opportunity for walking the talk.” The event provided an opportunityto assess current sustainability efforts and their future in Central Europe, Eastern Europe andthe Mediterranean region on the basis of the “Europe in the World” pamphlet, published bythe UK-based think-tank E3G with the support of the REC, which analyses the challenge facing Europe.

In November, 80 experts from 15 countries discussed global conditions for achieving sustainabledevelopment during a REC-organised session of the third World Science Forum “Investing in Knowledgefor Sustainability”. The World Science Forum is a major “intellectual stock exchange” for science, economicsand politics and is held every other year in Budapest at the Hungarian Academy of Science. The debate wasorganised under the patronage of H.E. Laszlo Solyom, president of the Republic of Hungary.

In 2007, the REC finalised the three-year project “Cross-border cooperation through environmental planningand investment”, highlighting the potential of cross-border initiatives in overcoming the isolation of borderareas and achieving the sustainable management of natural resources. The REC prepared four internationalstandard feasibility studies on cross-border cooperation. Within the European Network of EnvironmentalAuthorities, led by the European Commission (EC), the REC developed the report “Investing in theEnvironment as a Way to Stimulate Growth and Employment”, which was warmly welcomed by beneficiaries.

Alongside these key events, many more initiatives and events responded to local and regional challenges.

I will conclude with a brief mention of the REC’s new zero-emissions conference centre. In addition tocarrying out projects and programmes, the REC also sees itself as an active practitioner of sustainability.With the reconstruction of its conference centre, the aim is to create a model of energy efficiencyby reducing fossil-fuel-based energy consumption to zero, so eliminating carbon-dioxide emissions.The reconstruction work started in 2007 and is scheduled to be completed by June 2008. It is our hopethat this new building, which employs the most advanced technologies, will further contribute tothe REC’s efforts in the fields of sustainability and climate change mitigation.

CORRADO CLINIChairman of the Board of Directors


CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

he year 2007 brought challenges for all stakeholders in our region,including our international organisation. Both the donor community andthe beneficiary countries realised the urgent need to alter our consumptionand production patterns in order to tackle the effects of climate change.

The whole REC network lent its support to key events in 2007, including theSixth Ministerial Conference “Environment for Europe” in Belgrade, wherethe REC organised several side events; the session “Investing in Knowledgefor Sustainability” at the third World Science Forum in Budapest; and numerousmulti-stakeholder conferences, forums and workshops, globally, regionallyand locally. All these activities were undertaken in accordance with the missionof our organisation to assist in solving environmental problems.

Our beneficiaries deserve special mention for joining efforts with the REC to improve the environment in theregion. The REC continued the implementation of its ministerial mandates in support of our beneficiaries.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the donor community for its ongoing support. In particular,I would like to express our gratitude to the Italian Trust Fund and the Japan Special Fund for theircooperation with the REC since their establishment.

New partnerships and several bilateral meetings with ministers and high-level officials have also contributedto the implementation of REC activities. Our office network and specialised teams — the Topic Areas (TAs)— were involved in over 300 projects in 2007. I hope you will enjoy learning about the REC’s achievements,which are presented here following the same structure as our work plan.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT


Strengthening institutions for sustainable developmentStrengthening institutions for sustainable developmentThe Sustainable Development TA supported changeLAB, an international project aimed at changing lifestyles andattitudes. Eight European partners developed tools with the goal of promoting sustainable consumption patterns.

The pilot project “Educational-informational path for tourists in Javorniky” led to the creation ofa 40-kilometre-long educational trail featuring signboards produced by local artists.

The Local Environmental Action Plan TA was active in more than 20 municipalities in Albania, Bosnia andHerzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Greece, in order to ensure the effectivemanagement of cross-border natural resources. In Serbia, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and theREC jointly developed a national methodology for Local Environmental Action Plans (LEAPs).

The International, EU and National Environmental Law TA supported the implementation of the CarpathianConvention through the publication of a handbook targeted at local authorities.

With EC CARDS support we continued assistance in environmental law drafting in SEE, with national-levelactivities including progress monitoring for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, including Kosovo asdefined by UNSCR 1244, and Montenegro, as well as the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.Regional-level activities continued through the seventh meeting of the Environmental Law ApproximationNetwork (ELAN) in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The REC also won an EC tender to carryout progress monitoring in Croatia and Turkey.

In the framework of the UNEP project “Bridging the Gaps: Enhancing MEA Implementation in theBalkans”, the REC developed a national implementation plan (NIP) for Montenegro, integratingrequirements under MEAs in the areas of biodiversity and chemicals/waste.

The REC supported the translation of 19 EU framework directives into the Albanian language.

The Environmental Financing TA continued to provide assistance to SEE with the planning and preparationsfor environmental investments within the “Priority Environmental Investment Programme” (PEIP) that waslaunched in 2003. Several feasibility studies were implemented, some of them in cross-border areas.Capacity-building activities took place at national and municipal level.

Local activities included a conference on LEAPs in Albania; trainings for municipalities and utility experts inBosnia and Herzegovina; and support for the establishment of regional waste management centres in Croatia.In the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the REC was involved in the preparatory phase of sewageand regional waste treatment projects, and in the National Environmental Investment Strategy.

In April, a conference on financing eco-innovation covered the EC’s Environmental Technologies ActionPlan (ETAP) and the EU Competitiveness and Innovation Programme.



Under the Environmental Enforcement and Compliance TA the REC continued to provide the secretariatto the Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Network for Accession (ECENA), a network ofenvironmental inspectors in SEE. A training session was organised on benchmarking and progress monitoringin environmental enforcement and compliance. Capacity building for environmental inspectors/permitwriters and environmental protection agencies focused on legislative, institutional and practical issues relatedto the European Pollutant Emission Register (EPER), the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register(E-PRTR), and the implementation of the PRTR Protocol.

Reports were developed on the implementation of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC)Directive in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.The TA also participated in Interpol’s Pollution Crime Working Group.

Activities under the International Secretariats TA in support of environmental policy reform and institutionalstrengthening in SEE continued under the implementation of the Regional Environmental ReconstructionProgramme (REReP).

Capacity Building of Stakeholders and Assisting PartnershipsCapacity Building of Stakeholders and Assisting PartnershipsThe Green Pack — the flagship product of the Education for Sustainable Development TA — arrived in Turkeyand Azerbaijan, and the REC started to develop the Macedonian version. Green Pack Junior was presentedto environment ministers, UN officials and educators at the “Environment for Europe” conference.

Under the Capacity Building: Curriculum Development and Course Delivery TA, the fourth Course forSustainability: Strategies, Methodologies, Policies and Actions for Central and Eastern Europe was completedin 2007, providing training for 60 high-level government officials on sustainable development issues.


MAKING THE RIGHT MOVESMAKING THE RIGHT MOVESEstonia’ s increase in car ownership is one of the highestin CEE. These velotaxis were promoted in Estonia throughthe changeLAB project, which aims to alter lifestyles,attitudes and behaviour.Green Pack Junior, designed for children between 7 and10 years old, features interactive lessons using games,fairytales and outdoor activities to demonstrate how wedepend on and affect the environment in which we live.

Twelve trainees from Romania and Moldova participated in the REC’s Training for Young EnvironmentalLeaders. In Albania, 14 trainings were organised to familiarise teachers with the Green Pack. In Bosnia andHerzegovina, the project “Wastewater Treatment with Non-conventional Technologies” improved stakeholdercapacities. In Croatia, a national training on the IPPC Directive was organised. In Estonia, REC supportedthe publication of interactive study material to familiarise citizens with sorting and disposing of waste.

The NGO Financing TA focused on the implementation of the SECTOR (Supporting Environmental CivilSociety Organisations in SEE) granting programme which supports projects initiated by civil societyorganisations in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegroand Serbia including Kosovo as defined by UNSCR 1244.

Within the Support for Viable NGO Development TA, ten Croatian NGOs used a REC-developed tool to prepareorganisational self-assessments and develop organisational plans. The tool has been used in other Balkancountries and in the development of REC’s sister organisations — REC Caucasus and the RegionalEnvironmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC).

In a dynamic year for the NGO Networking, Partnership and Access to Key Environmental Issues and Processes TA,several projects were associated with preparations by Serbian NGOs for the “Environment for Europe”conference. Cooperation was supported between NGOs and government in Slovenia, Latvia and Kosovoas defined by UNSCR 1244. Within the SECTOR programme, 2007 saw the launch of the NGO Directoryfor SEE in regional languages. The REC worked together with the EC’s Directorate General for Environment(DG ENV) in assisting NGOs awarded EC twinning grants.

The Supporting and Promoting Environmental Information Provision TA promoted the EC’s Local TransportInformation Service (ELTIS), a portal for transport news, policies and practices in cities across Europe.


SHARING KNOWLEDGESHARING KNOWLEDGETeaching children how to make birdboxes and carefor birds was one of the activites supported througha REC grant to Croatian NGO PCAP International Karlovac.The European Local Transport Information Service (ELTIS)promotes the transfer of knowledge and the exchange ofexperience in urban and regional transport, with the aimof creating a more sustainable living environment.

The TA concluded its support to river basin management with two final issues of its newsletter on the VolgaRiver, commended by the EC and partners as “a newsletter you can be proud to put into the hands of others”.

The REC continued to assist beneficiary countries to improve their information management andcommunication technologies. To support those implementing the Aarhus Convention in CEE, underthe auspices of the Task Force on Electronic Information Tools, REC hosted a guidance training anddiscussion forum for national nodes of the Aarhus Clearinghouse Mechanism.

The Assisting the Practical Implementation of the Aarhus Convention, EU Directives and Best Practices in PublicParticipation TA contributed to the work of the Aarhus Convention Task Forces on Access to Justice,Electronic Tools and Public Participation in International Forums, and the Working Group of Parties,and participated in the expert group in drafting a long-term strategic plan for the Aarhus Convention.

The REC participated in the work of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)Protocol on PRTR Working Group and the International PRTR Coordinating Group.

Sustainable Management and Use of Natural ResourcesSustainable Management and Use of Natural ResourcesProjects implemented by the Biodiversity, Agriculture and Rural Development TA focused on Natura 2000 sites innew EU member states, stakeholder communication, and local development in support of nature protection.

A new environmental educational methodology was developed for schools and communities close to natureprotection areas in Poland. In Croatia, activities included capacity building of protection authorities andbiodiversity protection NGOs, and awareness raising among the public and tourists. The REC supportedthe branding of local products from valuable natural areas in the Czech Republic. In Slovakia, the RECsupported the elaboration of the Development and Marketing Plan of Kysuce region; the creation ofan educational and recreational trail; and a study on sensitive tourism in the green belt. Transboundarycooperation in the Neretva Delta was boosted by the establishment of two cross-border associations inBosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. Cross-border cooperation in West Stara Planina and the Skadar Lakealso continued. As part of a consortium, the REC helped coordinate an eco-networks project in Bulgarialeading to a ten-year sustainable development programme.

The Water Management TA provided assistance to SEE countries in preparing for the implementationof the EU Water Framework Directive, the Urban Waste Water Directive, the IPPC Directive, and the otherwater-related directives.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, the REC carried out projects aimed at ensuring the protectionand rational use of water resources according to EU standards.

Within its project on strengthening civil society in the pre-accession process, REC launched trainings for NGOson EU approximation in the water sector in Turkey. As part of a consortium, the REC implemented the EUproject “Preparation of Action Plans for the Remediation of Three Heavily Polluted Areas (Hot Spots) in Serbia.”



All philosophylies in two words:

Sustain and AbstainEpictetus

The Resource and Waste Management TA is part of a consortium managing the European Topic Centre onResource and Waste Management (ETC/RWM). A study analysing the national strategic documents supportingsustainable consumption and production (SCP) in EU countries was prepared by the REC. Various otherinitiatives supported the EU Action Plan on SCP. Projects aimed at mainstreaming the promotion of, andevaluating the barriers to, green public procurement and advancing the uptake of green(er) products in SEEcountries; promoting the EU Ecolabel among public procurement practitioners in the new EU member states;evaluating the implementation of EC industrial emissions directives; and developing the EC Waste Policy.

Within the Environment and Security TA the first partnership meeting of the Adriatic Sea Partnershiptook place in Sarajevo for broadening and deepening state-to-state contacts.

In cooperation with the UNECE and the Secretariat of the UNECE Water Convention the REC launcheda multi-year project to facilitate dialogue and promote cooperation between Serbia and Bulgaria and amongcommunities and stakeholders on both sides of the border to protect the Timok River basin, which has beensubject to years of serious degradation and deforestation resulting from uncontrolled mining activities.

In November, REC co-directed the NATO Advanced Research Workshop “Energy and EnvironmentalChallenges to Security”, which was held in the Hungarian Parliament. Anticipated global, regional andtransboundary threats to security resulting from energy and environmental policies and conditions werepresented and discussed by parliamentarians and key experts on relevant issues such as climate change,natural resources management and renewable energy, risk assessment and risk management, institutionaltheory, and conflict resolution.

A workshop on the assessment, management and remediation of contaminated mine waters was heldin March in Bor, Serbia.

In January, the Sustainable Enterprise TA finalised the report “Implementation of Integrated Product Policyin the EU Member States — an initial review of the literature” to the EC’s DG ENV.

Nearly 100 experts from eight countries participated in the partner search and project idea matchinginternational forum organised in Budapest under the “SME Environment” project. The REC is part of aconsortium implementing this project, which helps small and medium-sized enterprises working in the fieldof energy and environment to deliver proposals for the EU’s sixth and seventh Framework Programmes forResearch and Technological Development.

REC contributed to the report to the EC “Assessment of options to streamline legislation on industrialemissions.”

In Croatia, REC organised energy efficiency projects for local governments, public utilities and relatedorganisations, and in Estonia — within the project “Providing assistance to the development of sustainableentrepreneurship in Ukraine” — REC supported cooperation between the cities of Saue (Estonia) andKozelec (Ukraine).



We must learn toprovide affluencewithout effluence…by consuming lessfrom the environment,not more. We can useless, and have more.Consume less, and bemore. The interestsof business, and theinterests of environment,are not incompatible.Tachi Kiuchi

Integration of Environmental Concerns into the Relevant SectorsIntegration of Environmental Concerns into the Relevant SectorsThe Environment Assessment TA enhanced the integration of environmental issues into decision making byextending the use of project-level environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and strategic environmentalassessments (SEAs) for plans, programmes and policies.

The Climate Change and Sustainable Energy/REEEP TA represented the REC at the thirteenth Conference of theParties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bali and held side events on theadaptation-related capacity-building needs of the region and the establishment of a green investment scheme.

The REC is part of a consortium managing the European Topic Centre on Air and Climate Change(ETC/ACC). One example of this work is the EEA report “Greenhouse gas emission trends and projectionsin Europe 2007, tracking progress toward Kyoto targets.” In collaboration with West European partners,country reports were completed for the new EU member states to assess the effectiveness of policies andmeasures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Capacity-building activities in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia increased knowledgeabout the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto Protocol.

In Ukraine, the workshop “The Green Investment Scheme (GIS) in the context of the second commitmentperiod” provided a platform for discussions among government officials.

In Estonia, REC organised a workshop on energy aspects of building renovation.

The REC serves as the REEEP Regional Secretariat for CEE and Turkey. Two trainings for regulatorson distributed generation and the connection of renewables to the grid were co-organised with theEnergy Regulators Regional Association. Best-practice case studies were collected and country reportson energy policy and regulation were prepared for all 17 countries in the region.


STEWARDING RESOURCESSTEWARDING RESOURCESREC projects support the development of sustainableagriculture in Serbia, encouraging the renewal ofthe agricultural sector while ensuring the preservationof endangered plant and animal species.The REC is active in the promotion of renewable energyresources in order to meet growing energy demandsand tackle rising greenhouse gas emissions. It has beenestimated that wind energy could provide over 12 percentof Europe’ s electricity by 2020.

The Sustainable Transport TA organised a workshop on the transportation of dangerous goods alongthe 5th pan-European transport corridor.

In the framework of the REC project “Sustainable Urban Transport in SEE”, a regional meetingwas organised in June for public transport stakeholders from the SEE region and EU countries.

As part of the changeLAB project, REC implemented the “Golden Boot” campaign in Estonia to promotesustainable transport and to encourage children to walk to school.

The EU CIVITAS MOBILIS project aims to implement radical strategies for clean urban transportin five partner cities, and the REC is responsible for coordinating information dissemination among them.

The Health and Environment TA contributed to the implementation of Priority Goal 3 of the Children’sEnvironment and Health Action Plan for Europe (CEHAPE): “Indoor Air Quality Improvement in EuropeanSchools”. A working paper was presented at the Intergovernmental Mid-term Review of the CEHAPE in June2007 in Vienna.

While far from providing a complete picture, I hope that this glimpse gives you an idea of the breadthof the REC’s work and the efforts of all stakeholders towards a sustainable future for our globe.

MARTA SZIGETI BONIFERTExecutive Director


NATIONAL TREASURESNATIONAL TREASURESNational parks, such as Hungary’ s Hortobagyand the Plitvice lakes in Croatia, provide protectionfor vulnerable species of plants and wildlife.The REC is involved in monitoring the implementationof EU directives in SEE that ensure the safeguardingof biodiversity for future generations.


A predicted 1.87 billion mobile phonesA predicted 1.87 billion mobile phones will be in use by the end of 2008. The total mass of all mobile phones produced worldwideis tens of thousands of tonnes per year, while accessories represent tens of thousands of tonnes more. How often do you change your mobile phone?Nowadays, mobiles have a fast replacement rate of 18 months to two years from purchase, although their technological lifespan is ten years. There are manyreasons for upgrading: faults, desire for new functions, fashion, network ties or the opportunity to purchase a subsidised phone. Existing manufacturing,purchase, usage and disposal patterns need to change, and we, as customers, have a role to play in demanding better environmental performanceand proper recycling and disposal opportunities to prevent phones ending up in landfills or incinerators, with the resulting release of hazardous substances.

At the manufacturing stage,At the manufacturing stage, energy consumption can be reduced and alternatives found to the hazardous substances and precious metalscurrently used, in order to prevent the most severe environmental impacts. At the purchase stage, unnecessary packaging can be eliminated and retailerscan provide better advice about the possibilities for upgrading hardware and software rather than replacing phones.

Do you leave your chargerDo you leave your charger plugged in when the phone battery is full? The standby energy consumed when a fully charged batteryis left connected to the charger far exceeds the energy delivered by the battery in actual use. Efficient chargers that switch off automatically whenthe battery is full would reduce energy consumption. Chargers could also be developed that use different energy sources (such as solar, kinetic, etc.)

Some phone companiesSome phone companies already have schemes in place for accepting end-of-life devices and accessories (battery chargers, carrying cases,earphones and cables) for recycling, in response to new EU directives and the growing awareness of corporate social responsibility. Plans are also beingdeveloped to use recycled materials, such as aluminium cans, plastic bottles and car tyres, to make the mobiles of the future. Companies exist that repairand refurbish discarded phones and distribute them in poorer countries. Other handsets are recycled and the extracted metals used to make tools,saucepans and buckets, as well as new batteries.

Spreading the messageSpreading the message

AN N U AL R E PO R T 2 0 0 7 A New Perspective

he REC is committed to providing a clear picture of itsfinancial activities. The following pages focus on the detailedfigures for the past year and contain our auditor’s confirmationof the REC’s strict account keeping.

As well as introducing the key projects of 2007, this new chapter inthe REC’s Annual Report pays tribute to donor governments, organisationsand businesses for their generous contributions. In 2007, the RECworked on 324 projects, most of them lasting longer than a year.This chapter includes lists of the REC’s 20 biggest projects and of90 other typical REC projects arranged according to country and donor.



FINANCIAL INFORMATION

BALANCE SHEETBALANCE SHEET (all amounts in EUR 1,000) December 31, 20072007 2006

ASSETS

Current Assets:Cash 3,964 3,500Term deposit 673 1,105Prepaid expenses and accrued income 310 266Receivables 1,947 2,040

Total current assets 6,894 6,911

Fixed assets, net 1,594 1,648

TOTAL ASSETS 8,488 8,559

LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCESCurrent Liabilities:

Accounts payable and accruals 7,044 6,632Grants payable 187 370

Total current liabilities 7,231 7,002

Fund balance 1,257 1,557

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCES 8,488 8,559

STATEMENT OF REVENUE, EXPENSES AND CHANGESSTATEMENT OF REVENUE, EXPENSES AND CHANGESIN FUND BALANCESIN FUND BALANCES (all amounts in EUR 1,000) December 31, 2007

2007 2006REVENUES

Contributions 10,257 11,678Interest income 60 49Other 162 187

TOTAL REVENUE 10,479 11,914

EXPENSESDirect programme expenses 7,904 8,741Grants and awards 1,101 1,816Administration 1,355 1,257Depreciation 245 262Foreign exchange gain/loss 174 211

TOTAL EXPENSES 10,779 12,287

Excess (deficiency) of revenues over expenses (300) (373)Fund balances at the beginning of year 1,557 1,930

FUND BALANCES AT THE END OF YEAR 1,257 1,557

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

To the Board of DirectorsThe Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe

We have audited the accompanying financial statements of the Regional Environmental Center for Central andEastern Europe (the Organisation), which comprise the balance sheet as at 31 December 2007, the statementof revenue, expense and changes in fund balance and statement of cash flow for the year then ended, and asummary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory notes.

Management’s Responsibility for the Financial Statements Management is responsible for thepreparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with International FinancialReporting Standards. This responsibility includes: designing, implementing and maintaining internal controlrelevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from materialmisstatement, whether due to fraud or error; selecting and applying appropriate accounting policies; andmaking accounting estimates that are reasonable in the circumstances.

Auditor’s Responsibility Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statementsbased on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing.Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit toobtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in thefinancial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment ofthe risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making thoserisk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fairpresentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in thecircumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internalcontrol. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and thereasonableness of accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentationof the financial statements.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for ouraudit opinion.

Opinion In our opinion, the financial statements give a true and fair view of the financial position of theRegional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe as of 31 December 2007, and of its financialperformance and its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial ReportingStandards.

Without qualifying our opinion we draw attention to the fact that we have not audited note 15 on restrictedfunds, consequently we do not express an opinion regarding note 15 to the financial statements.

ERNST & YOUNG Budapest, Hungary • April 4, 2008

STATEMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONSSTATEMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONS December 31, 2007Donor Contributions In-kind TOTAL

1990-2007 Contributions

EUR EUR EUR

Albania 203,038 203,038Austria 839,021 839,021Belgium 384,251 384,251Bosnia and Herzegovina 259,487 259,487Bulgaria 36,466 36,466Canada 815,460 815,460Croatia 50,514 6,350 56,864Czech Republic 534,110 534,110Denmark 4,099,725 4,099,725Estonia 137,482 137,482European Union 29,645,861 29,645,861Finland 1,567,381 1,567,381France 25,683 25,683Germany 1,886,235 345,647 2,231,882Hungary 984,410 13,182,000 14,166,410Italy 10,548,792 487,427 11,036,219Japan 12,475,323 655,889 13,131,212Latvia 130,863 130,863Lithuania 8,513 8,513Luxembourg 7,200 7,200Former Yugoslav 239,277 239,277Republic of MacedoniaMontenegro 10,000 10000Netherlands 11,701,755 11,701,755New Zealand 14,048 14,048Norway 4,424,477 4,424,477Poland 317,345 317,345Romania 9,256 9,256Serbia 90,806 90,806Slovakia 569,068 569,068Slovenia 464,522 464,522Spain 275,000 275,000Sweden 5,540,987 5,540,987Switzerland 4,428,293 4,428,293Turkey 43,147 43,147UN/UNMIK 6,250,176 3,846 6,254,022United Kingdom 1,219,277 1,219,277United States 11,921,686 52,280 11,973,966Other 5,496,683 497 5497180TOTAL 117,655,618 14,733,936 132,389,554


COMPENDIUM OF REC PROJECTS

Largest-budget projectsLargest-budget projects (in descending order)(in descending order)

PP RR OO JJ EE CC TT NN AA MM EE DD OO NN OO RR // CC LL II EE NN TT OO RR GG AA NN II SS AA TT II OO NN CC OO UU NN TT RR YY

SECTOR: Supporting Environmental Civil Society Organisations SIDA Swedenin South Eastern Europe

LEAPs in municipalities in the Korca region SIDA Sweden

Strengthening civil society in the pre-accession process: NGO grant facility CFCU / Ministry of Finance / Turkey European Commission

TA for establishment of CBC Bulgaria-Greece AGRECO - Belgium European Commissioneco-networks — EA 122 632/D/SER/BG

Course IV: Course for Sustainability: Strategies, methodologies, Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea Italypolicies and actions for Central and Eastern Europe

Cross-border LEAPs: Environmental planning for peace and stability Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Netherlands

Cross-border cooperation through environmental planning and investment Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Netherlands

Support to the Public Regional Communal Service Company Ministry of Foreign Affairs Norwayand four municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Phase I)

Support to the regional waste management centres Ministry of Foreign Affairs Norwayin northwest Croatia and eastern Slavonia

Promoting ITF/REC activities Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea Italy

Trust fund for locally initiated environmental projects in Albania Dutch Embassy – Tirana The Netherlands

Indoor air quality in European schools Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea Italy

Support to the implementation of the Carpathian Convention – Phase 2 Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea Italy

PARAMOUNT: Large-scale dissemination for clean urban transport FGM – AMOR European Commission

New conference centre Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea Italy

Approximation of Croatian water legislation with EU acquis Carl Bro A/S European Commission

Preparation of action plans for the remediation of three heavily polluted areas NIRAS – Denmark European Commission

Co-financing: Supporting education for Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea Italysustainable development activities – Green Pack

Preparation of project documentation for the construction Ministry of Foreign Affairs Norwayof sewage systems and wastewater treatment

Support for the implementation of the multi-annual work programme DG Enlargement European Commissionof the Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Network for Accession for the period 2006-2009



Selected projectsSelected projects

DD OO NN OO RR // CC LL II EE NN TT OO RR GG AA NN II SS AA TT II OO NN PP RR OO JJ EE CC TT NN AA MM EE

ALBANIAMunicipality of Maliq LEAPs (Local Environmental Action Plans) in municipalities in the Korca regionMunicipality of Bilisht LEAPs (Local Environmental Action Plans) in municipalities in the Korca region

AUSTRIAAustrian Development Agency National Environmental Investment StrategyAustrian Development Agency Green Pack: Awareness of sustainable development for Macedonian schools

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINAThe Regional Landfill of Una-Sana Canton Eco-educational campaign for the Bihac region

CANADAUNDP Timok River ForumUNDP Drisviaty Lake international cooperation

CZECH REPUBLICMinistry of the Environment KYOTO in the home –– Trainings in the Czech RepublicMinistry of the Environment Eco-branding for local services –– SumavaMunicipality of Opava SEA of Strategic Developement Plan of the Municipality of Opava

ESTONIATallinn Municipality Informing citizens about waste management policy in TallinnMinistry of Foreign Affairs Providing assistance to the development of sustainable entrepreneurship in Ukraine

EUROPEAN COMMISSIONRupprecht Consult – Forschung & Beratung GmbH CABRI –– Cooperation along a big river: Institutional coordination among stakeholders

for environmental risk management in the Volga basinTechnical Education Insttutute of West Macedonia – Greece SMAQ –– LIFE satellite-assisted management of air qualitySurrey County Council, UK The ChangeLABSurrey County Council, UK KYOTO in the home-HuSTELLA CONSULTING SARL Technical assistance for strengthening the programming capacity of the

Ministry of Environment and Water Management, RomaniaEC DG Enlargement CARDS III, Assistance in environmental law drafting in SEE DG ENV E4 – Life Unit Wetland butterflies protectionDG ENV E4 – Life Unit Promoting climate change policies in Turkey

FINLANDMinistry of the Environment Promoting environmental mediation as a tool for public participation and conflict resolution:

Workshop on environmental mediationMinistry of the Environment Green Pack in Russia –– Extension to St. Petersburg




GERMANYFederal Environmental Agency Know-how transfer to CAREC and REC Caucasus Federal Environmental Agency Environmental financing trends in SEE

HUNGARYMinistry of Environment and Water Possibility of new measures in energy intensity improvement — energy saving productsMinistry of Environment and Water ECO-CLUBS

ITALYMinistry for the Environment, Land and Sea Balkan Mountain Initiative surveyMinistry for the Environment, Land and Sea Adriatic Sea Partnership –– PreparationMinistry for the Environment, Land and Sea Course for Sustainability: Strategies, methodologies, policies and actions

for Central and Eastern Europe –– Course IIIMinistry for the Environment, Land and Sea Sustainable Development Certificate ProgrammeMinistry for the Environment, Land and Sea Support to South East European regional input into “Environment for Europe” Belgrade conference

JAPANEmbassy of Japan Capacity building for the implementation of the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol

in the Balkan Stability Pact countriesEmbassy of Japan Workshop on the development of Green Investment Scheme concept in UkraineEmbassy of Japan Promotion of flexible mechanisms and GIS

LATVIAMinistry of the Environment NGO forumEnvironmental Protection Fund Partnership for climate policy in Latvia

LITHUANIAMinistry of Environment Trakai municipality –– Reduction of pollution

LUXEMBOURGLux-Development Forestry development in Montenegro

FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIAMinistry of Environment National Environmental Investment StrategyMinistry of Environment Development of a database for the state of the environment in municipalities

NETHERLANDSMinistry of Foreign Affairs Green Pack in the Western BalkansMinistry of Spatial Planning, Housing and the Environment Sustainable urban transport in SEE Ministry of Spatial Planning, Housing and the Environment Greening EU funds 2007Ministry of Spatial Planning, Housing and the Environment Enhancing regional SEE cooperation in the field of climate policy


NORWAYENSI Energy Saving Internatinoal Financial engineering for energy efficiency in CroatiaMinistry of Foreign Affairs Support to the Public Regional Communal Service Company and four municipalities

in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Phase II)Ministry of Foreign Affairs Water and wastewater in industry –– A training programmeMinistry of Foreign Affairs Setting up instruments for sustainable cleaning of the solid waste in the Drina River basin

POLANDNational Fund for Environmental Protection Education for NATURA 2000National Fund for Environmental Protection Legal mechanism to support environmental protection

ROMANIAMinistry of Environment and Water Management Support to CO Romania

SERBIAMinistry of Environmental Protection Workshop for environmental journalistsMinistry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management STAR Project –– Preparation of Social Assessment Study

SLOVAKIAMinistry of Environment Green BeltMinistry of Environment POLYDEV European spatial development perspective

SLOVENIAMinistry of Environment Efficient implementation of energy services in SMEsGovernment Office Local Self-Government Regional Policy Seminar on EU Structural Funds in SloveniaMinistry of the Environment and Spatial Planning Adriatic Sea Partnership

SPAINAECI (Spanish Agency of International Cooperation) Promotion of effective application of the rights and duties of the Albanian public

in environmental issues

SWEDENUNDP – Serbia Enhancing regional CEE cooperation in the field of climate changeSIDA Development of LEAPs in the former Yugoslav Republic of MacedoniaSIDA Local environmental action planning for sustainability in the Western Balkans

SWITZERLANDFederal Department of Foreign Affairs Transbaundary cooperation. Shkodra Lake Forum institutionalisation. Followup 07-08Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Transboundary cooperation through management of natural resources (REReP 4.3.23)




TURKEYTEPAV Turkey Capacity bulding for the development of regulatory impact assessment studies in TurkeyMinistry of Environment and Forest Biodiversity and natural resources management

(technical assistance to Igneada Protected Area Management Authority)

UNUNEP Regional Office for Europe GEO 4 –– UNEP’s Global Environmental OutlookUNFCCC Secretariat Synthesis report for UNFCCC on capacity-building activities in the EIT countriesUNECE Capacity-building workshop on electronic information tools and the clearinghouse mechanismUNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services Danube grants 2005-2007

UNITED KINGDOMBritish Embassy Budapest Stern Review forumBritish Council –Turkey Dissemination of ZeroCarbonCity campaign in Turkey 2DEFRA Enforcement of the new healthcare waste legislation in RM

UNITED STATESBooz Allen Hamilton Sava River inland waterway transport study

OTHER ORGANISATIONSBTC – Azerbaijan Azerbaijani Green Pack (2nd phase)Coca Cola – Romania Training for young environmental leaders –– Romania and MoldovaEBRD Assistance to the environmental monitoring and advisory group for the Skopje bypassNATO Security Through Science Programme NATO Advanced Research Workshop “Energy and Environmental Challenges to Security” OSCE – Austria Green Pack feasibility study in Central AsiaPhilips Hungary Improvement of energy efficiency in public institutes –– Philips Green projectREEEP Secretariat – Vienna Year 4 –– Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) secretariat for CEE Soros Foundation – Albania Environmental EU directives as prerequisite of SAP for AlbaniaSoros Foundation – Kosovo Introduction to European EIA and SEA legislationToyota Motor Europe Junior Green Pack (English)Toyota Motor Europe Development of a basic version of educational kit for Turkey UCEF – The United States – UCEF donation for technical equipmentCentral and Eastern European Environment FoundationWorld Bank South Central Europe – Croatia Study on strengthening environmental institutionsWorld Health Organization – Denmark Survey of environment and health legal and policy instrumentsWWF Mediterranean Programme Protection of priority wetlands for bird migrations in the Dinaric Arc ecoregion




As any parent knows, children love to collect things.As any parent knows, children love to collect things. Marketing companies take advantage of the fact, promoting cereals,fast-food meals, shampoos, drinks and sweets with series after series of collectible “free” plastic toys. Film tie-ins and cross-marketing are additional ways ofensuring that one purchase leads to further consumption, while children amass huge numbers of plastic items that are enjoyed for seconds and rapidly discarded.For example, to promote just one popular chocolate treat, around 2.5 million toys are produced each day. Ultimately they end up in landfills where they do notbiodegrade, or are burnt in incinerators where they produce toxic byproducts.

The use of plastic makes toys cheaper,The use of plastic makes toys cheaper, easier to manufacture and more colourful. Plastics are used in 80 percent of new toys currentlyproduced. Since petrochemical-based plastics became widely used in the 1950s, billions of plastic dolls have been sold worldwide. Most dolls are made of polyvinylchloride (PVC), the worst plastic in terms of both the environment and health. Throughout its lifecycle, from manufacture to disposal, it releases dioxins,the most toxic human-made substances known. Although plastics originally replaced expensive and ecologically damaging materials such as ivory,the environmental impacts of the use of non-renewable fossil fuels now make wood and textiles preferable. Another alternative for items with a short lifespan, suchas toys, are bio-based polymers, made from renewable sources.

Typically, toys are producedTypically, toys are produced in Third World countries where labour is cheap, and shipped to consumers in Europe and the US,making them socially and environmentally unsustainable. Most are sold in vast amounts of protective plastic packaging which ends up in landfills.

There are alternatives!There are alternatives! Use empty boxes and stainless steel bowls to provide hours of fun; pass on durable wooden toys such as dolls houses andbuilding blocks rather than throwing them away; choose locally produced toys to avoid pollution from shipping; avoid PVC plastic that damages the environment;opt for toys that are not sold in huge boxes and mountains of plastic wrapping.

Playing for the futurePlaying for the future futuree


BOARD AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

BOARD O F D I R E C T ORS

Corrado CliniDIRECTOR GENERAL•Ministry for theEnvironment, Land and Sea•ItalyCHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Ferruh ErtürkPROFESSOR•Yildiz University•Turkey

Tom HarveyFOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN OF THEBOARD•Global Environment & TechnologyFoundation•USA

Jon OpemSENIOR ADVISOR•Ministry of theEnvironment•Norway

Adriaan OudemanCOORDINATOR MINISTRY OF HOUSING•SpatialPlanning and Environment•Netherlands

Istvan PomaziCHIEF ADVISOR•Ministry of Environmentand Water•Hungary

Claude RouamHEAD OF UNIT• European Commission

Yukio YanagisawaPROFESSOR OF ENVIRONMENT SYSTEMS•University of Tokyo•Japan

PRESIDENT OF THEGENERAL ASSEMBLYJAAKKO HENTTONENFund Manager•The Northern Dimension EnvironmentalPartnership, European Bank for Reconstruction andDevelopment

ALBANIAPELLUMB ABESHIGeneral Secretary•Ministry of Environment

AUSTRIAGERHARD OMERSUSenior Advisor•Federal Ministry of Agriculture andForestry, Environment and Water

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINAREUF HADZIBEGICAssistant Minister•Ministry of Foreign Trade andEconomic Relations

BULGARIADETELINA PEICHEVASenior Expert•Ministry of Environment and Waters

CANADAAGNES FRANCES PUSTCounsellor•Embassy of Canada to Hungary

CROATIAMIRA MEDICAssistant Minister•Ministry of EnvironmentalProtection, Physical Planning and Construction

CZECH REPUBLICIVETA SPALTOVAHead of International Organisations Unit•Ministryof the Environment

DENMARKTHOMAS BECKERHead of International Department•Ministryof Environment

ESTONIAALLAN GROMOVDeputy Secretary General on InternationalCooperation•Ministry of Environment

EUROPEAN COMMISSIONCLAUDE ROUAMHead of Unit

FINLANDANN-BRITT YLINENDirector, Bilateral and Regional Cooperation•Ministryof the Environment

GERMANYHANS-JOACHIM HERMANNSenior Advisor•Federal Environmental Agency

HUNGARYKALMAN KOVACSMember of Parliament

ITALYCORRADO CLINIDirector General•Ministry for the Environment,Land and Sea

JAPANTOYOKAZU KUBOTAFirst Counsellor•Embassy of Japan to Hungary

LATVIAANDRIS EGLAJSDeputy State Secretary•Ministry of Environment

LITHUANIAJOLITA JARMAKAUSKIENEChief Desk Officer•International Relations andAgreements Division, Ministry of the Environment

FORMER YUGOSLAVREPUBLIC OF MACEDONIAGORDANA KOZUHAROVAHead of Department•Ministry of Environmentand Physical Planning

MALTAGEORGE PULLICINOMinister•Ministry of Rural Affairs and theEnvironment

REPUBLIC OF MONTENEGROSINISA STANKOVICDeputy Minister•Ministry of Tourismand Environmental Protection

THE NETHERLANDSADRIAAN OUDEMANPolicy Coordinator•Ministry of Housing,Spatial Planning and Environment

NORWAYELDRID NORDBOSpecial Advisor•Ministry of the Environment

POLANDEWA SIDDIQUE-OLESIEJUKSenior Specialist•Ministry of the Environment

ROMANIADANIELA TOPIRCEANUHead of Unit•Ministry of Environmentand Water Management

REPUBLIC OF SERBIAJELENA CVETKOVICAssistant Minister•Ministry of EnvironmentalProtection

SLOVAKIAKAMIL VILINOVICDirector General•Ministry of the Environment

SLOVENIAMARJAN VEZJAKHead of the Office for International Relations and EUAffairs•Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning

SWITZERLANDFRANCOIS DROZSenior Advisor•Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

TURKEYCENGIZ TAYLAN BAYKARAHead of Department•Ministry of Environmentand Forestry

USAANNA PHILLIPSProgramme Manager for Central and EasternEurope•US Environmental Protection Agency

COOPTED MEMBERS† TOM GARVEYBelgiumBEDRICH MOLDANDirector•Environmental Center, Charles University,Prague•Czech RepublicERZSEBET SCHMUCKVice-President•European EnvironmentalBureau•President•Hungarian Association forNature Conservation•HungarySTANISLAW SITNICKIVice-President•Ekofund•PolandJERNEJ STRITIHChairman of the Board•Oikos Inc., EnvironmentalConsulting•Slovenia

G EN ERA L A S S EMB L Y



ALBANIAMihallaq Qirjo•Country Office DirectorDjana Bejko•Eduart Cani•Genta HoxhaAlbert Milo•Alken MyftiuJula Selmani •Doreida Trenova

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINAJasna Draganic•Country Office DirectorAndrea Bevanda•Zoran MateljakNirmela Musa•Enisa Pulic•Lejla PulicInka Sehovic•Sunita Selak•Djordje Vojinovic

BULGARIAGerassim Evtimov Gerassimov•Country Office DirectorJulia Dencheva•Vesselin Drobenov

CROATIAIrena Brnada•Country Office DirectorSuncica Kopjarevic Juric•Dalia MatijevicZeljka Medven•Meri Rogosic•Bojan Sliskovic

CZECH REPUBLICIva Dykova•Acting Country Office DirectorNadezda Frelichova•Tereza Vackova

ESTONIAAnne Kivinukk•Country Office DirectorMaiken Staak

HUNGARYEva Csobod•Country Office DirectorMariann Hajdu•Peter Szuppinger

LATVIAErika Lagzdina•Country Office Director

FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLICOF MACEDONIAKatarina Stojkovska•Country Office DirectorDejan Kovacevic•Marina OrdzanovaAna Petrovska•Valentina PetrusevskaKornelija Radovanovic•Daniela Simova

MONTENEGROSrna Sudar Vilotic•Country Office DirectorJelena Perunicic•Mira Puric

POLANDMarta Kaczuro-Kaczynska•Country Office DirectorDariusz Gatkowski•Kamila GontarskaMichal Miazga

ROMANIALucian Ionescu•Country Office DirectorBogdan-Constantin Barbu•Magdalena ChituSteluta Dumitru

SERBIAJovan Pavlovic•Acting Country Office DirectorMiljana Colic Zekonja•Zorica KoracZvezdana Lipovac•Aleksandar MaksimovicJasmina Marinkovic•Aleksandra MladenovicDamir Oravec•Tihomir Rekic

SLOVAKIAVladimir Hudek•Country Office DirectorAlexandra Dubnickova•Lenka HolecovaZuzana Hudekov•Michal Tvrdon

SLOVENIAMilena Marega•Country Office DirectorAlbin Keuc•Blanka Koron•Mateja SepecTatjana Studen

TURKEYSibel Sezer•Country Office Director /Regional DirectorPinar Akpinar•Gulnaz Aksahin•Yunus ArikanYesim Caglayan•Sebnem FeriverKerem Okumus•Gulcin OzsoyHande Gulten Ozut•Rifat Unal SaymanSongul Sokulmez•Sinan Yilmaz

Field Office Kosovo(as defined by UNSCR 1244)Zeqir Veselaj•Field Office DirectorNaim Arifaj•Firdeze BekteshiFitore Ferizi•Margarita Hashani•Merita Mehmed

*Topic area leader changed ** As of May 2008

C OUN TR Y O F F I C E S T A F F * *

MOLDOVAVeronica Andreev•WisdomVioleta Paginu•Institute of Ecology and Geography

ROMANIAKinga Abraham•Transylvanian CarpathianFoundation (Cluj county)

Mihaela Alionte•Future Plus

Veronica Andronache•Future Plus

Andreea Burnescu•Mare Nostrum

Tunde Denes•Nemere Hikers’ Circle

Mirela Fenes•Apuseni Mountain Club

Lucian Lup•Romanian Bats Protection Association

Raluca Nichiforel•National Forest Administration

Agnes Szasz•Transylvanian Carpathian Foundation(Brasov county)

Bogdan Tomozei•EcoSilvex 2000 Foundation

J UN I OR F E L L OWS

STAFF, FELLOWS AND INTERNS

SENIOR MANAGEMENTMarta Szigeti Bonifert•Executive DirectorOreola Ivanova-Nacheva•Deputy Executive Director Strategy and DevelopmentZoltan Madaras•Deputy Executive Director Finance and AdministrationRadoje Lausevic•Regional Director for South Eastern EuropeSibel Sezer•Regional Director for Turkey/Country Office Director TurkeyBeata Wiszniewska•Regional Director for European Union Member StatesRobert Atkinson•Director for Civil InitiativesStefania Romano•Italian Trust Fund CoordinatorOsamu Mizuno•Japan Special Fund

DEPARTMENT AND PROGRAMME HEADSFerenc Andras•Technical Service DepartmentIlona Docze•Administration and Conference DepartmentActing Head, Human Resource DepartmentZsuzsa Ivanyi•Climate Change DepartmentAniko Kovacs•Finance DepartmentSylvia Magyar•Publishing DepartmentKliment Mindjov•Education and Capacity Building DevelopmentJerome Simpson•Information ProgrammeStephen Stec•Environmental Law ProgrammeMagdolna Toth Nagy•Public Participation Programme

TOPIC AREA LEADERSAdriana Craciun•Capacity Building: Curriculum Development and Course DeliveryEva Csobod•Health and EnvironmentMihail Dimovski•Environmental Enforcement and ComplianceJoanna Fiedler/Ruslan Zhechkov•Environmental Financing*Richard Filcak/tbd •NGO Networking, Partnership and Access to KeyEnvironmental Issues and Processes*Vladimir Hudek•Sustainable DevelopmentJovanka Ignjatovic•Water ManagementZsuzsa Ivanyi•Climate Change and Sustainable Energy/REEEPAusra Jurkeviciute/Beata Wiszniewska•Environmental Assessment*Marta Kaczynska•Biodiversity, Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentKliment Mindjov•Education for Sustainable DevelopmentYordanka Minkova/tbd•International Secretariats*Kerem Okumus•Sustainable EnterpriseEntela Pinguli•NGO FinancingMihallaq Qirjo•Local Environmental Action PlanTodd Schenk/Robert Atkinson•Support for Viable NGO Development*Jerome Simpson•Supporting and Promoting Environmental Information ProvisionStephen Stec•International, EU and National Environmental Law;Environment and SecurityJozsef Szlezak•Resource and Waste ManagementWioletta Szymanska•Sustainable TransportMagdolna Toth Nagy•Assisting the Practical Implementation of the AarhusConvention, EU Directives and Best Practices in Public Participation

HEAD OFFICE STAFF**Pavel Antonov•Erzsebet Aszalos•Judit Balint•Ellen Baltzar•Janos BangaPatricia Barna•Zsolt Bauer•Tamas Becker•Andras Bene•Tamas BodaiGamze Celikyilmaz•Adriana Craciun•Diana Culo•Mihail DimovskiAgnes Dobo•Eva Dunszt•Tsvetelina Filipova•Apollonia GabeliSteven Graning•Angelika Halasz•Istvan Hegyi•Gabor Heves•Rachel HidegJovanka Ignjatovic•Katalin Ivesne Nagy•Tamas Janicsek•Nathan JohnsonChristelle Kapoen•Maria Khovanskaia•Mozes Kiss•Imola KosztaMagdolna Lajti•Laszlo Leitold•Miriam Markus-Johansson•Marco MattielloCecile Monnier•Karoly Mozes•Vadim Ostapenko•Szilvia Pandi SzegediEva Peto•Entela Pinguli•Ana Popovic•Gabor Rehak•Dusan SevicGreg Spencer•Srdjan Susic•Csaba Szabo•Orsolya Szalasi•Zsofia SzentklarayJozsef Szlezak•Wioletta Szymanska•Kaidi Tingas•Zsuzsa Tovolgyi•Virag UthyAriadne Abigel Vandlik•Venelina Varbova•Erika Varga•Barbara VertesRuslan Zhechkov•Janos Zlinszky

H E AD O F F I C E S T A F F

Andrea Barisiello•Theodoros ChronopulosDavid Currie•Antoinette Fekete•Akos GaraiKatharina Kuhnle•Keith Levene•Nyambura NjagiSara Podor•Ludovic Rousseau•Julia SchuchmannIsabelle Sorg•Marie-Louise Strijbos

I N T E RNS

S E L E C T E D PUB L I C A T I ONS 2 0 07

Books and other print publicationsAnnual Report 2006: Measures for Change, 40 pagesCABRI Volga Newsletter 1.3, 4 pagesCarpathian Convention Handbook, 180 pages, ISBN 978-963-9638-15-0Directions for Developing Sustainable Agriculture in Serbian Municipalitiesof Western Stara Planina, 56 pages, ISBN 978-963-9638-19-8Environmental Financing Trends for South Eastern Europe, 108 pagesEnvironmental Infrastructure Investment Project Preparation in the Water Sector:Available Sources of Finance for Water Infrastructure Projects in the former YugoslavRepublic of Macedonia, 60 pages, ISBN 978-963-9638-20-4Establishing an Environmental Fund: Practical Aspects for Decision Makersand Fund Managers, 60 pages, ISBN 978-963-9638-12-9Flowing Freely: How to Improve Access to Environmental Information and EnhancePublic Participation in Water Management, 32 pagesGreen Horizon 4.1-4.4, 32 pages, ISSN 1786-0423Green Pack Junior, 142 pages, ISBN 978-963-9638-23-5Guidelines for Benchmarking and Progress Monitoring in Environmental Enforcementand Compliance, 104 pages, ISBN 978-963-9638-14-3In Gear: Course for Sustainability Alumni Network Newsletter 4-7, 4-6 pagesAcceptance and Implementation of UNECE Multilateral Environmental Agreements inSouth Eastern Europe, 112 pagesMunicipal Investment in Water and Waste Infrastructure in South Eastern Europe,67 pages, ISBN 978-963-9638-24-2NGO Directories: Albania, 84 pages, ISBN 978-963-9638-21-1•Bosnia, 84 pages,ISBN 978-963-9638-26-6•Croatia, 88 pages, ISBN 978-963-9638-27-3•Kosovo(in Albanian), 70 pages, ISBN 978-963-9638-22-8•Kosovo (in Serbian), 70 pages,ISBN 978-963-9638-31-0•Macedonia, 68 pages, ISBN 978-693-6938-25-9•Serbia, 100 pages, ISBN 978-963-6938-25-9Strategic Environmental Assessment Training Manual for South Eastern Europe,84 pages, ISBN 978-963-9638-18-1Trans-boundary Cooperation through the Management of Shared Natural Resources,94 pages, ISBN 978-963-9638-16-7

CD-ROMs, multi-media materials and websitesChangeLAB conference•http://www.rec.org/changelab/ECENA conference in Bristol•http://www.rec.org/ecenaconference/bristol2008/index.htmlECENA-NET•http://ecena.rec.org/files/Eco-Innovation Financing conference•http://www.rec.org/ecoinnovation/Environmental Mediation•http://www.rec.org/REC/Programs/PublicParticipation/Mediation/Default.htmlGreen Pack: Turkish version – multi-media, ISBN 978-963-9638-17-4NATO workshop•http://www.rec.org/natoworkshop/REReP Record – quarterly newletter V2 / No 5, V3 / No 6•http://www.rec.org/REC/Programs/REREP/RerepRecord/default.htmlSector Masterclass•http://www.rec.org/sector/assistance/masterclass.htmlSectoral Integration, Sustainable Transport•http://www.rec.org/REC/Programs/environmental_policy/sectoral_integration/default.htmlThe REC in Belgrade – CD-Rom

THE REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER FOR CENTRALAND EASTERN EUROPE (REC) is a non-partisan, non-advocacy,not-for-profit international organisation with a mission to assistin solving environmental problems in Central and Eastern Europe(CEE). The centre fulfils this mission by promoting cooperationamong non-governmental organisations, governments, businessesand other environmental stakeholders, and by supportingthe free exchange of information and public participationin environmental decision making.

The REC was established in 1990 by the United States, theEuropean Commission and Hungary. Today, the REC is legallybased on a charter signed by the governments of 29 countriesand the European Commission, and on an international agreementwith the government of Hungary. The REC has its head officein Szentendre, Hungary, and country offices and field offices in17 beneficiary countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania,the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland,Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Turkey.

Recent donors are the European Commission and the governmentsof Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia,the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy,Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the former Yugoslav Republicof Macedonia, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland,Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as otherinter-governmental and private institutions.

The world’s annual consumptionThe world’s annual consumption of plastic has risen from 5 million tonnes 50 years ago to nearly 100 million tonnes. Its cheapness, flexibilityand durability, qualities that contribute to its popularity, make it a huge pollution problem. In Western Europe, 60 percent of plastic waste comes from packaging,which is discarded straight after purchase. Only a small percentage of plastic is recycled: the rest is landfilled, incinerated, or dumped in rivers, lakes and oceans.

Manufacturing plasticManufacturing plastic requires enormous amounts of resources, in the form of fossil fuels, land and water, and produces waste and emissions.Just manufacturing the 29 billion plastic water bottles used in the US each year requires the equivalent of more than 17 million barrels of crude oil ––enough energy tofuel more than one million cars for a year. When plastics are recycled, fossil fuels are conserved, energy consumption is lowered, less solid waste ends up in landfills,and emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide are reduced. While eight out of ten plastic water bottles become landfill waste in the US, recyclingjust one plastic bottle saves enough energy to power a 60W light bulb for six hours.

Although technically all typesAlthough technically all types of plastic are recyclable, not all are accepted by recycling plants. The high cost of collection, lack of adequaterecycling facilities, and limited applications and market demand mean that some plastics are generally not recycled: these include plastic bags, yoghurt pots,margarine tubs, and disposable cups, plates and cutlery. Plastic does not biodegrade so remains in our ecosystems permanently. Plastic that is washed out to seais broken down by the sun and salt into small pellets. In the Pacific Ocean, these plastic pellets ––which have been found to outweigh plankton by a ratioof six to one ––are ingested by mammals, birds and fish, causing millions of deaths every year.

Reduce, reuse, recycleeReduce, reuse, recycleReduce, reuse, recycleReduce, reuse, recycle

TEXT Zsolt Bauer •Rachel Hideg DESIGN Sylvia Magyar3D PHOTOS Laszlo Falvay THEME PHOTOS Laszlo Falvay •Sylvia MagyarPHOTOS Zsolt Bauer (8)•Flickr (13)• istock (12)•Gabor Kardos (4, 6, 26)•Damir Krsic (9)Robert Pressl (9)•Katarina Stefanovic (12)•Erko Valk (8)PRINTING Typonova Kft. in HungaryThis and all REC publications are printed on recycled paper or paperproduced without the use of chlorine or chlorine-based chemicals.

ALBANIARr. Ismail Qemali, No. 27,Third FloorTiranaTel/Fax: (355-4) 223-2928E-mail: [email protected]

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINAKalemova 3471000 SarajevoTel/fax: (387-33) 263-050, 209-130E-mail: [email protected]

Banja Luka Field OfficeSlavka Rodica 178000 Banja LukaRepublika SrpskaTel/fax: (387-51) 317-022E-mail: [email protected]

Mostar Project OfficeDr. Ante Starcevica b.b.(Federal Building)88000 MostarFederation of Bosnia and HerzegovinaTel/Fax: (387-36) 327-331E-mail: [email protected]

BULGARIATzar Simeon 42, Ap. 21000 SofiaTel: (359-2) 983-4817Fax: (359-2) 983-5217E-mail: [email protected]

CROATIADjordjiceva 8a Br.10000 ZagrebTel: (385-1) 481-0774Tel/fax: (385-1) 481-0844E-mail: [email protected]

Metkovic Project OfficeKralja Zvonimira 7/1120350 MetkovicTel/Fax: (385-20) 681-714E-mail: [email protected]

CZECH REPUBLICSenovazna 211000 PragueTel/fax: (420) 224-222-843E-mail: [email protected]

ESTONIARavala str. 810143 TallinnTel/fax: (372) 646-1423E-mail: [email protected]

HUNGARYAdy Endre ut 9-112000 SzentendreTel: (36-26) 504-075Fax: (36-26) 302-137E-mail: [email protected]

LATVIAPeldu 26/28, 3LV-1050 RigaTel/fax: (371-7) 228-055E-mail: [email protected]

LITHUANIASvitrigailos g. 7/1603110 VilniusTel: (370-5) 231-0067Tel/fax: (370-5) 233-5451E-mail: [email protected]

FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLICOF MACEDONIAIlindenska 1181000 SkopjeTel/fax: (389-2) 309-0135, 309-0135 or306-0146E-mail: [email protected]

MONTENEGROIvana Crnojevica 16/281000 PodgoricaTel: (382-020) 210-235Fax: (382-020) 210-236E-mail: [email protected]

POLANDul. Grojecka 22/2402-301 WarsawTel: (48-22) 823-8459, 823-9629Fax: (48-22) 822-9401E-mail: [email protected]

ROMANIAStr. Episcop Timus No.4, Sector 1BucharestTel: (40-21) 316-7344, 316-7345Fax: (40-21) 316-7264E-mail: [email protected]

SERBIAPrimorska 3111000 BelgradeTel: (381-11) 329-2899Fax: (381-11) 329-3020E-mail: [email protected]

Kosovo (as defined byUNSCR 1244) Field OfficeKodra e Diellit Rruga 3Lamela 26, PO Box 16010000 PristinaTel/fax: (381-38) 552-123E-mail: [email protected]

SLOVAKIAVysoka 1881106 BratislavaTel: (421-2) 5263-2942Fax: (421-2) 5296-4208E-mail: [email protected]

SLOVENIASlovenska cesta 51000 LjubljanaTel: (386-1) 425-6860Fax: (386-1) 421-0939E-mail: [email protected]

TURKEYIlkbahar Mah. 15. Cad. 296. Sok. No. 806550 Yildiz Cankaya, AnkaraTel: (90-312) 491-9530Fax: (90-312) 491-9540E-mail: [email protected]

Country and Field Offices

The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern EuropeAdy Endre ut 9-11•2000 Szentendre•Hungary•Tel: (36-26) 504-000•Fax: (36-26) 311-294•www.rec.org

Head Office

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