Cohesion funds projects in the light of EU Environmental policy & acquis

Michal NEKVASIL

European Commission, DG EnvironmentCohesion Policy and Environmental Impact

Assessments Unit

Prague, 24-25 February 2005

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Cohesion fund projects submitted to the Commission in 2004 (results of the first

inter-service consultation)

Projects with no environmental problems

Projects with major env. problems

The Czech Republic

4 11

10 New EU Member States

29 106

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What is the Cohesion Fund for (an example to begin with)

Compliance with the EU water policy (the Urban Waste Water Directive) is investment demanding → a transitional period agreed with the Czech Republic + Cohesion fund used to (re)construct WWTPs and sewerage systems

In other words:

Cohesion Fund is a tool to help Member States implement the EU policy and legislation (besides others in the area of environment)

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DG ENV assessment is based on:

EU environmental policies

EU environmental legislation

Council decision of 24/09/1998 – “…new investments

(in particular the ones receiving EU funding) should

be in line with environmental acquis…”

Transitional periods on environmental

legislation agreed prior to accession

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EU environmental policies

Sustainable Development Strategy

6th Environmental Action Program - Tackling climate change

- Nature & biodiversity - Environment & health- Sustainable use of natural resources & waste management

Integration of environment into other EU

policies

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6th Environmental Action Program

Thematic strategies

Marine

Soil

Pesticides

Air pollution

Urban environment

Resource use and management

Waste prevention and recycling

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Key EU environmental legislation in relation to Cohesion fund projects

EIA and SEA

Natura 2000 (Habitats and Birds

directive)

Water legislation

Waste legislation

COMPLIANCE WITH NATIONAL LEGISLATION IS NOT ENOUGH!

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Transitional periods on environmental legislation agreed

prior to accession

Urban Waste Water Directive- 31/12/2006 for agglomerations > 10.000 PE- 31/12/2010 for agglomerations > 2.000 PE Packaging- 31/12/2012 for attaining all the recovery and

recycling targets Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment- 31/12/2008 for attaining the separate collection,

and recovery targets

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Commission decisions on co-funding

Projects have to comply with article 8 of Cohesion Fund Regulation 1164/94 (article 12 of the Structural Fund Regulation 1260/99)

This compliance is checked by relevant Directorates-General (DG REGIO, Legal Service, DG ENV, DG MARKT, DG COMP, etc.) in an inter-service consultation

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Timing for submission of a proposal

Studies WorkDevconsent

EIAPrep. work

AVOID SUBMITTING PROJECTS AT TOO EARLY STAGE !

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Specific problems in the Czech Cohesion Fund projects

• Natura 2000 - list of sites approved only on 22/12/2004- declaration of the competent authority + maps missing

• EIA - exclusion of projects from the scope of the directive- screening of Annex II projects not according to Annex III criteria

• Point 6.7 of the application form- estimated proportion of total cost attributable to mitigation measures can never be 100%

• Sewage sludge and industrial waste water pre-treatment- insufficient information

• An amended application form is not acceptable

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What we have achieved so far in 2000-6 (integration of the environment

in the cohesion policy)

Around 16% foreseen for environment in Objectives 1 & 2 in 2000-6 (in EU15)

50% of the Cohesion Fund set aside for environmental infrastructure in EU25

Increase by 75% of expenditure on environment from 1994-9 period in EU15

Around €8.5 billion for EU12 2000-6 for environment for SF, CF, ISPA, PHARE & SAPARD

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Best practice – use of Cohesion funds in the waste water sector

Dublin Bay wastewater plant - completed in summer 2003- largest EC co-financed wastewater project - provides clean wastewater for 1.6 million people- meets EC effluent and sludge quality standards- environment friendly by-products (fertilizer and biogas)- over € 40/200 million from the polluter pays principle- provided 40 new permanent jobs- for more info:

http://www.dublincity.ie/services/dubbay2.html

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Best practice – use of Cohesion funds in the waste sector

Integrated waste management project in Portugal- separate collection of municipal waste- sorting stations- transfer stations- closing of illegal landfills, construction of new landfills- awareness-raising campaign- a following stage: composting- for more info: Águas de Portugal: http://www.adp.pt

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THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION !

Contact in DG Environment:Contact in DG Environment:

E-mail: michal.nekvasil@cec.eu.int