Connecting Networks – [InsertYourCountry] Report on environmental information systems, access and exchange; Progress & Priorities June 10, Belgrade, SERBIA&MONTENEGRO

JEROME SIMPSONThe Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe JSimpson@rec.org

Progress

Reporting & public access: monthly and yearly reports, www page, www portal, ngo`s www sites. Comments on drafts, access to some info (current air pollution)

Legal Progress: Aarhus convention -1998, law for environmental protection and law of water – in a parliamentary procedure; air, waste and biodiversity are already adopted by the parliament (creation of the sub legislation also started) in line with EU standards.

Institutional Development(s): PR Office under the Ministerial cabinet; New decentralisation policy - responsibilities under local authorities;

ICT Capacity & know-how: More sophisticated equipment, employment of new human recourses, Existence of NGO electronic network

Multi-stakeholder cooperation: There is some co-operation, which should be improved

Resource availability: Still Insufficient - dependence of international founds;

In the NGO sector more than 250 people are ICT educated

Priorities

4. Improving the cooperation between the NGOs and authorities, participation of the NGOs in the commissions discussions

1.Sucessful implementation of the new developed env.legislation – exchange of positive experience/good practices – practical examples (including the business sector, NGOs, media, gov`t.)

2. Broadening the scope of the information to the public – the authorities to be more transparent

3. Capacity building, employment of ICT experts and env.protection engineers

5. Needs for technical support (human capacity building, technical equipment)

6.Joint training for the gov`tal, NGO and media representatives – development of close relationships