Kiev Environment for Europe Conference, Ukraine 21-23 May 2003

• A Brief History of the Environment for Europe Process
• The Kiev Conference
• UK Defra press releases:
  • 23 May 2003 - Kiev Conference 'fulfilled its promise' says Margaret Beckett
  • 22 May 2003 - Kiev Conference: Margaret Beckett launches UK environment for Europe fund
  • 21 May 2003 - Kiev Conference: protocols signed
• Follow-Up to Kiev
• Further Information

A Brief History of the Environment for Europe Process

The Environment for Europe (EfE) process was launched in Dobris in 1991, in the then Czechoslovakia, to serve as a framework for improving and harmonising environmental quality and policies on the continent. Josef Vavrushek the Minister of Environmental protection of the former Czechoslovakia saw it as a unique opportunity to unify the countries, thus promoting peace, stability and sustainable development.

The EfE process seeks to improve coordination of national and international efforts in Europe, focusing on central and Eastern parts of the region. The process sits within the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) framework, in which there are 55 member states - see www.unece.org/oes/about/members.htm - including countries in North America (Canada and America), Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) and Western Asia (Israel).

The UNECE region covers more than 47 million square kilometres and has a population of 1.2 billion (20% of the worlds population). Details of the UNECE region are available at www.unece.org/oes/about/region.htm

The Kiev Conference

Kiev was the 5th ministerial conference to take place under the EfE process. It brought together delegates from 55 UNECE member states as well as representatives of the major international organisations, NGOs and other experts. The UK was represented by Secretary of State Margaret Beckett. Click here to access the Ministerial Declaration of the Kiev conference.

The Conference made important progress in raising environmental standards across the wider European region through:

• Adoption of three new protocols to UNECE conventions:Strategic environmental assessment; Pollutant release and transfer registers; Civil Liability and Compensation of Damages (more details available on Kiev conference website - see link below);

• Adoption of an environmental strategy for EECCA countries not involved in EU accession;· Agreement to a series of targets to support biodiversity objectives;

• Commitment to develop a strategy on education for sustainable development in the UNECE region;

• Ministerial declaration setting strategic priorities for the future of the EfE process.

During the conference Secretary of State Margaret Beckett launched Defra's new "Environment for Europe" fund, worth £2million in 2003/04. The priorities of the fund are to promote environmental protection and sustainable development in central and eastern Europe by supporting a range of multilateral and bilateral programmes as well as smaller grass-roots projects.

Follow-up to Kiev

A UK stakeholder event to look at follow-up to the conference took place on 21 July 2003. This identified possible priority areas of follow-up from the conference for the UK, looked at how the UK could deliver Kiev commitments, and explored funding options for UK stakeholders. For further information about the event please see the programme and papers on the outcomes of Kiev and report of the meeting below:

• Programme for the event (25 KB)
• Session 1 Paper - Outcomes of Kiev (25 KB)
• Report of meeting (55 KB)
  • Executive summary (10 KB)

Following on from this stakeholder event the UK has formulated a strategy for action, giving priority to work on water, energy, biodiversity, public participation, education for sustainable development and private sector involvement within the EfE process. Details of the UK's strategy on Kiev follow-up are outlined in the matrix below. The glossary explains abbreviations used.

• Matrix (30 KB)
• Glossary (7 KB)

Further Information

For further information and background to the Kiev Environment for Europe Conference click on the following links:

Kiev conference:
http://www.kyiv-2003.info/main/index.php?mode=1

Groundwork UK:
http://www.groundwork.org.uk/int-links/central-europe.htm

UK Government's position on sustainable development:
http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/what_is_sd/transparency.htm

Or contact Rachael Wilson at:
Email: Rachael.Wilson@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: +44 (0)207 082 8545