2003❈ A N N U A L R E P O R T ❈

[setting the stage]

The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern

Europe (REC) is a non-partisan, non-advocacy, not-for-profit

international organisation with a mission to assist in solving

environmental problems in Central and Eastern Europe

(CEE). The REC fulfils this mission by promoting cooperation

among non-governmental organisations, governments, busi-

nesses and other environmental stakeholders, and by sup-

porting the free exchange of information and public partici-

pation in environmental decision making.

The REC was established in 1990 by the United States, the

European Commission and Hungary. Today, the REC is legal-

ly based on a charter signed by the governments of 28 coun-

tries and the European Commission, and on an international

agreement with the government of Hungary. The REC has its

head office in Szentendre, Hungary, and country offices and

field offices in 16 beneficiary countries which are:

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia,

the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania,

FYR Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro,

Slovakia, Slovenia and Turkey.

Recent donors are the European Commission and the gov-

ernments of Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina,

Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,

Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, the Netherlands,

Norway, Poland, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, Sweden,

Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as

well as other inter-governmental and private institutions.

The REC is eternally grateful to the Hungarian State Opera House and its gracious staff for allowing us to photograph its splendid interior.

[setting the stage]

[setting the stage]

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The moment a theatre goes dark, all activity stops. Props are in place, deft hands are poised on lighting switches, fists tighten around the curtain rope. The actors who must now face the audience carry the momentum of weeks and months of preparation. Like a crew of key grips, the REC is the steady hand and strong back that Central and Eastern Europe needs for sustainable development.

[2]CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

[3]EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S LETTER

[5]ACHIEVEMENTS

[21]FINANCIAL INFORMATION

[23]GRANTS AWARDED

[31]STRATEGIC DIRECTION 2004

[32]BOARD AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

[33]STAFF AND JUNIOR FELLOWS

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World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg in2002, promoted an integrated, cross-sectoral and broadly participatoryapproach to sustainable development, and its implementation at the

local, national, regional and global level. Just over one year ago in Lisbon, the European Councilset a new strategic goal for the Union: “to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobsand greater social cohesion.” The Stockholm European Council then decided that the EUsustainable development strategy should complete and build on this political commitment byincluding an environmental dimension. This recognises that, in the long term, economic growth,social cohesion and environmental protection must march in tune. These principles were put intoplay during the SAVA project International Framework Agreement (2003), which sought to establish state-of-art riverbasin management. Managing resources efficiently, with something — not everything — for everyone, is the key tosuccess, and therefore to sustainable, development.

Sustainable development is not an abstract idea of international treaties, political declarations, scientific books: it isa reality having concrete impacts in our daily life. Environment is one of the cornerstones of this challenge, andharnessing the synergy created by the three dimensions of sustainable development represents a fundamental stepin the implementation of the commitments undertaken by the international community.

But compliance with the Johannesburg and Lisbon targets needs a profound and significant knowledge of thedifferent realities where activities are implemented. This is the REC’s mission. Its country and field offices provide acomprehensive picture of ways in which people understand and relate to the environment and the scientificimplications of their knowledge in the contemporary world. Therefore, the local knowledge, the experiences, theability that REC country and field offices are constantly showing in all different kinds of sectors where its servicesand products are needed — a testament to how much REC is capable of intervening in the most efficient andprofessional manner, adapting itself to the needs and geo-political changes that Europe is facing.

The Sustainable Development Programme for the Czech Republic and the Strategic Environmental Assessment ofthe Single Programming Document of Estonia were two successful national projects, while the Drina River BasinProject, which established consensus of all interested parties in the River Drina region and Lake Perucac forprevention of pollution from solid waste, showed how the REC thrives in the international arena.

In this new reality, and in the dialogue that is underway with other European Countries, the REC will continue towork and to strengthen its capacities, always inspired by its mission: “to assist in solving environmental problems inCentral and Eastern Europe (CEE), by promoting cooperation among non-governmental organisations,governments, businesses and other environmental stakeholders, and by supporting the free exchange ofinformation and public participation in environmental decision making.”

Corrado Clini

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

[ M E S S A G E F R O M T H E C H A I R M A N ] S E T T I N G T H E S T A G E

The

is a pleasure for me to present the Annual Report for 2003, which provides a transparentpicture of the results of the REC’s work in the fields of sustainability and environmentalprotection in CEE. 2003 was another year of hard work. Changes in the economy, society

and the environment in the countries serviced by the REC have accelerated — thus there is theneed for new approaches from all environmental stakeholders, including the REC.

The REC — with the support of its 28 signatory countries, the European Commission and itsBoard of Directors — carefully adjusted its strategy to these new requirements. New strategicdirections built future activities onto the two critical assets of the REC: a workforce withfourteen years of experience and a thriving country office network.

In 2003, all environmental protection eyes were set on the 5th Pan-European Environment for Europe MinisterialConference. Nine months after the Johannesburg Summit, environmental ministers gathered in Kiev to discussimplementation of the environmental pillar of the European drive towards sustainability. The REC has been contributingto the Environment for Europe process for more than a decade, and Kiev was no exception. The ministerial declarationstressed that the REC should continue to contribute to international multi-stakeholder cooperation.

The REC restructured its operations to meet the needs and interests of the geopolitical regions of Europe we work in.The new EU member states require assistance at both the regional and local level with regard to the spending of EUfunds in ways that contribute to long-term sustainability. In South Eastern Europe (SEE), we further the policy andinstitutional reforms of the Stabilisation and Association Process and encourage environmental investments. Countriesnegotiating EU accession, including Turkey, which joins the REC family in 2004, require support in implementing theacquis communautaire. The REC is also excited about sharing its valuable experiences with the countries of EasternEurope, the Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA).

In 2003 the REC successfully accomplished its mandate as secretariat of the CEE sub-programme of the EAP Task ForceTask and carried out policy work and stakeholder capacity building under the Regional Environmental ReconstructionProgramme for South Eastern Europe. Among its many activities are the Renewable Energy and Energy EfficiencyPartnership; strategic environmental assessment; priority investments; environmental education; greenhouse gasinventories; environmental legal advocacy/advisory centres; biodiversity projects bridging borders in SEE; and supportfor implementation of the Aarhus Convention.

I would like to express our gratitude to two special teams within the REC, the Italian Trust Fund and the JapanSpecial Fund, for their commitment and contributions to the region, while not forgetting the support from thegovernments of many other countries, international organisations and private institutions.

It is my hope that this report will give you an idea of the hard work that the REC team has done in 2003. Thank youfor your support to our work and your partnership in sustainable development and environmental improvement!

Marta Szigeti Bonifert

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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It

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Like the hidden technician whocasts the limelight, the REC spent2003 working behind the scenes,setting the stage for the players of Central and Eastern Europe.

2003 the REC head office and country offices carried out more than 300 projects. With over 100 staff members from 30 countries, the REC team operated on local, national and regional levels, in most cases

across borders. This broad repertoire of assistance comes from the high number of projects and variety of methodologiesdeveloped and sharpened during the REC’s 13 years of service to the Central and Eastern European region.

[MULTI-STAKEHOLDER APPROACH] The REC insists on involving multiple stakeholders to realise its commitment to partnership among environmental stakeholders, common understanding of the goals at hand and mutual trust. This approach builds on values like: discussions with partners and stakeholders about proposed jointactivities, open and constructive cooperation, transparent decision making, timely and quality implementation of decisions, and — last but not least — paying tribute to all involved in the partnership. The best examples from 2003 are connected to implementation of the Aarhus Convention.

[PARTNERSHIPS] The REC is not only a member of different partnerships, but also initiates them, whether it is convening authority, drawing on specialised expertise, seeking access to information or procuring financial support. Two highly productive endeavours include the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) and theSofia Initiative on Local Air Quality (SILAQ).

[REGIONAL PROGRAMMING] Ownership and commitment of beneficiary countries is a key factor for success.REReP and the Joint Programme of the RECs for Implementation of the Environmental Partnership Strategy inEECCA are successful examples of this approach.

[CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION] Environmental protection and sustainable development — especially in CEE— cannot be realised without cross-border cooperation. Conflict between economic development and nature conservation can be solved only by analysing all aspects and influences of a single action. In transboundary areas, it is even more difficult to find the best solutions for sustainable development.

[LESSONS LEARNED] The REC provided substantial assistance to the SEE countries by sharing lessons learned fromthe REC’s 13 years of experience in the new EU member states. It has engaged in a similar process for the EECCA coun-tries based on the Kiev Ministerial Declaration. The transfer of best practices and lessons learned are reflected in projectslike the LEAP workshop, which promoted the transfer of methodology and experience from CEE to the EECCA region.

[CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE] The REC’s projects fall into nine programme areas: climate change; strategic environmental assessment; biodiversity conservation; renewable energy; waste management; enforcement andcompliance; public participation; education; and environmental investments. The Strategic EnvironmentalAssessment team of the Environmental Policy Programme is one of the best examples of a REC knowledge hub.

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S E T T I N G T H E S T A G E [ K E Y A C H I E V E M E N T S ]

In

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Business and Environment Programme[RESEARCH] Several research projects were carried out with international institutes, such as the Institute forProspective Technological Studies of the Joint Research Centre, the Fraunhofer Institute of Germany and theNetherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, via DG Transport and Energy and DG Research of theEuropean Commission. The projects included various “techno-economic,” socio-economic and environmentalassessments of clean technology diffusion across Europe. Outlooks and scenarios have been developed for waste

and industrial residue management, as well as for renewable-energy technology penetration. Business andEnvironment’s major role in most of these projects was to cover the accession countries/new member states in the EU-wide studies, but contributions were also made to general development of the methodology and various analyses.

[HAZARDOUS WASTE] A regional approach to managing hazardous wastes in the western Balkan countrieswas drafted. Building on this experience and information, a new project was initiated via the Italian Trust Fund onthe rapid assessment and sound management of industrial risks within the same region.

[CLEANER PRODUCTION] The Aarhus Business and Environment Initiative resulted in an easy-to-use environ-mental management toolkit for small and medium-sized enterprises and a report on progress made in implementingthe Aarhus Policy Statement on Environmental Management in Enterprises in CEE. Activities were also started up to support the Norwegian government’s efforts to provide cleaner production know-how to Croatian and other western Balkan enterprises. Most recently, work was carried out for the Netherlands Ministry of Spatial Planning,Housing and the Environment in support of the Dutch EU presidency, conveying the message that environmentalinvestments and eco-efficient innovations in CEE are drivers for rather than barriers to economic development.

Capacity Building Programme[GREEN PACK] A multi-media environmental education curriculum kit primarily intended for secondary schoolteachers and their students was launched in both Hungary and Bulgaria. The pilot project in Poland reached over300,000 pupils with the help of several partners: teachers, government officials, non-governmental organisations,environmental institutes and Toyota, which generously supported the activity. Preparations of the Russian,Albanian, Slovakian, and Czech version were initiated. The English-version launch was an enormous success during the Kiev Ministerial Conference. An online version is available at the REC website.

[EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT] During the Kiev ministerial conference, the REC organised an official side event on education for sustainable development with the European ECO-Forum of NGOs.The event, which featured a keynote address by Lena Sommestad, the environmental minister of Sweden, focusedon the need for partnership in preparing education on sustainable development.

[ K E Y A C H I E V E M E N T S ] S E T T I N G T H E S T A G E

[STACKING UP] Factories like this one in Bulgaria are an ambivalent presence in local communities. The REC promotes local involvement to ensure thatall sides participate in the decision-making process.

[TRAINING FOR YOUNG ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS] The Dutch and Italian ministries of environmentsupported continuation of the training of young environmentalists with six groups of six trainees each in 2003. Two groups were focused on young environmentalists from the NIS countries, and for a further four, the REC organisedthese courses together with an Italian Partner, L’Umana Dimora. These sessions included a new departure for the programme — a one-week field trip to Italy to study the work of Italian environmental organisations in person.

[BLACK SEA TRAINERS] An intensive, two-week training-of-trainers course was held with funding from the BlackSea Environmental Programme. Participants came from Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine.

Climate Change Programme[RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY PARTNERSHIP] REEEP is a global framework initiatedat the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in August 2002 by the UK Government. Itprovides an open and flexible framework within which stakeholders can work together to meet their own sustain-able energy objectives according to their own timetables. (See www.reeep.org for more information.)

A REEEP regional meeting for CEE was hosted by the REC in Szentendre. More than 50 participants from 17 coun-tries gathered to explore policy and regulatory priorities and financing possibilities, as well as to recommend futureactivities in the field of development and utilisation of renewable energy and energy-efficiency technologies.

[JOINT IMPLEMENTATION] A comprehensive study was begun to assess the potential for joint implementationin 10 CEE countries. This brief overview contains an assessment of present and future potentials, including economic indicators relevant to joint implementation. The methodology and preliminary results were presented at a side event during the ninth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 9) in Milan.

[GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY] A UNDP/GEF-funded project was initiated in June 2003 to build capacityfor preparing greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories in selected CEE and EECCA countries. Its status was presented at a COP 9 side event.

[SUPPORT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE KYOTO PROTOCOL IN CEE] An assessment of basic elements of a GHG registry system (i.e. an electronic database to track and record the transfer of emissionreduction units of GHGs under the flexibility mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol) for six CEE countries was completed. In late 2003, the project started assessing capacity in the field of climate change protection (i.e. legislative and institutional preparedness) of Lithuania, Croatia, as well as two non-Annex I countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro). National case studies on public participation in climate change-related decision making had been completed and were published in Aarhus Meets Kyoto.

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S E T T I N G T H E S T A G E [ K E Y A C H I E V E M E N T S ]

[WINDED] The unlimited supply of renewable energies make for an attractive alternative to fossil fueldependency. Wind turbines can help countries to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases,in line with the Kyoto Protocol.

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Country Office Support DepartmentCOSD works extensively to further cooperation between the REC’s country offices, while also coordinating fundraisingactivities. A large number projects have been launched and implemented on national levels, and included the followingselected achievements:

[ALBANIA] Country Office Albania launched the three-year project Trust Fund for Local Environmental InitiatedActivities. It included grants for NGOs in partnership with local authorities for small environmental investment projects.

[BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA] Country Office Bosnia and Herzegovina supported the efforts of theEnvironmental Steering Committee, including the cooperation between the environmental ministries of RepublikaSrpska and Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It also prepared a feasibility study as a precondition for theestablishment of an Environmental Protection Agency.

[BULGARIA] Country Office Bulgaria produced results connected to the Sofia Initiative on Local Air Quality (SILAQ).From 1998 to 2003 the REC managed SILAQ with CO Bulgaria acting as secretariat of this EAP Task Force activity.

[CROATIA] Country Office Croatia’s projects results related to BERCEN received official recognition from theMinistry of Environment, touted as the best within the REReP process in Croatia.

[CZECH REPUBLIC] Country Office Czech Republic successfully implemented the project Support of StrategicEnvironmental Assessment in Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries. This project was jointlyfinanced by the Official Development Assistance of the Czech Republic through the Ministry of Environment of theCzech Republic, the REC and the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.

[ESTONIA] Country Office Estonia successfully completed the project Strengthening the Administrative Capacityand Partnership between NGOs, Municipalities and Enterprises by Supporting the Preparation of the Guidelines for Developing a Municipal Waste Management Plan.

[HUNGARY] Country Office Hungary initiated long-term cooperation with the Ministry for Environment andWater. As a result, CO Hungary contributed to the National Environmental Programme of Hungary II (2003-2008).

[LATVIA] Country Office Latvia implemented the highly successful project Eco-team: An Idea to PromoteSustainable Development in School and in Family, which was supported by the Latvian Environmental Fund.

[LITHUANIA] Country Office Lithuania developed Education for Sustainability, an interactive learning website for enhancing pupils’ knowledge of and support for sustainable development.

[FYR MACEDONIA] Country Office FYR Macedonia published the National EIA Overview for the Republic of Macedonia within the project Support to Macedonian Legal System with International EIA Guidelines.This publication was based on a broad assessment of current legal practices and multi-stakeholder dialogue for future implementation aspects. Within the same project, a comprehensive pilot EIA was conducted for thewastewater treatment plant in the Municipality of Saraj.

[POLAND] Country Office Poland continued the dissemination of the Green Pack multimedia project. The Pack has helped more than 300,000 kids to learn about sustainability.

[ K E Y A C H I E V E M E N T S ] S E T T I N G T H E S T A G E

[CROWNING ACHIEVEMENTS] School children learned the importance of wetland vegetation on a trip to the Norin River in southern Croatia.

[ROMANIA] Country Office Romania began new fields of work, especially in light of EU enlargement by contributing to the application of the Water Framework Directive of the EU and in drafting the national Action Planon Climate Change.

[SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO] Country Office Serbia and Montenegro started the Regional Municipal WasteManagement Project “REMUS” to establish an environmental and economically sustainable municipal solid waste management system in the one waste management region-district, which is composed of a few municipalities in Serbia.

[KOSOVO] Kosovo Field Office, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning REF, facilitatedthe preparation of the Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Strategy. It also signed a pre-implementa-tion agreement with the ministry to prepare an environmental action plan. Kosovo is under UN interim administration.

[SLOVAKIA] Country Office Slovakia implemented a comprehensive study of the area’s Local Agenda 21 in sixselected municipalities.

[SLOVENIA] Country Office Slovenia continued its strong role in implementation of Phare Programmes, likeAccess, Cross-Border Cooperation and Project Preparation Facility programmes.

Environmental Law Programme[GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES FOR FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN HAZARDOUS ACTIVITIES]This guidance for reducing risk to human health and the environment arising out of the investment process wasone of the REC’s key contributions to the Kiev ministerial conference and is a major initiative in the area of investorand corporate social responsibility.

[ENVIRONMENTAL LEGAL ADVOCACY/ADVISORY CENTERS] The Bulgarian pilot centre was legally registered and is now acknowledged as a reliable organisation delivering professional legal expertise to citizens andNGOs in protection of their environmental rights. Legal advocacy activities were carried out under the ELAAC grantsprogramme, on the Rosia Montana Gold Mine project in Romania and on several new cases in Bulgaria and FYRMacedonia. The Environmental Advocacy Network for South Eastern Europe (EANSEE) was extended to 45 environ-mental independent lawyers from all the beneficiary countries. The EANSEE members established a strong cooperativerelationship and are actively assisting each other in their legal advocacy work both at national and regional levels.

[ENVIRONMENTAL LAW DRAFTING IN SEE] The project established and facilitated a network of senior officialsand legal experts (ELDNSO) and organised three ELDNSO network meetings. A successful workshop on Strategytowards Approximation of EU Environmental Legislation in SEE was held. The first phase report, AssessingEnvironmental Law Drafting Needs in SEE, was published in November in time for the REReP Task Force meeting.Concrete country/entity-based legal assistance was provided to seven SEE ministries and two major, topic-orientedregional workshops took place.

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S E T T I N G T H E S T A G E [ K E Y A C H I E V E M E N T S ]

[PACKED IN] Green Pack educational materials were warmlyreceived in Hungary and Bulgaria in 2003. The Pack’s popularity in Poland merited a second distribution there with updated materials.

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[GOVERNANCE OF SHARED NATURAL RESOURCES] As a follow-up to the Tisza River Basin SustainableDevelopment Programme — Initiation Phase, the REC began the assessment of legal, policy and institutional frameworks related to sustainable water management in five Tisza riparian countries. The REC provided legal support for the establishment of the International Commission for the Sava River. The REC also played an important role in the development of the work programme under the Carpathians Framework Convention.

[AIMS] The REC supported the acceptance and implementation of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) inSEE. Two regional meetings were held in 2003, including workshops on the Basel Convention and three relatedUNECE conventions. Country activities focused on promoting the implementation of priority conventions identifiedthrough multi-stakeholder processes. Workshops were held in three countries on the Basel Convention and CITES. Amajor national MEAs forum, organised in cooperation with UNEP and UNECE, was held in Albania under the project.

Environmental Policy Programme[REREP] As Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme in South Eastern Europe (REReP) Secretariat, theREC organised two task force meetings in 2003: the 5th REReP TF meeting in Tirana, in January, and the 6th RERePTF meeting in Brussels in November. Two publications were prepared for the Kiev ministerial conference. REReP:Model for Successful Assistance Mechanism explains the process of REReP development, endorsement and imple-mentation. The second publication, Highlights of the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme for SouthEastern Europe, describes the major results of the programme’s implementation. The importance of REReP in supporting the Stabilisation Association Process (SAP) through developing regional cooperation was underlined atthe 6th REReP TF meeting. The REReP Task Force provided guidance for further implementation of the programme,and took note of major project results such as strategies, action plans, analytical studies and reports.

A major development within REReP was the Joint Statement of the Ministers of Environment of the Stabilisation andAssociation process (SAP) countries, Skopje, October 15, 2003. The ministers met for the first time after endorsing theREReP programme. They welcomed the progress achieved in the environmental protection of their countries, expressedrecognition for the assistance received within REReP and identified priority areas for future joint work and assistance.

[BERCEN] In 2003 the main capacity building activities were the 3rd Train the Trainer Programme, study tours inGermany and Finland, and participation of the Balkan Environmental Regulatory Compliance and EnforcementNetwork (BERCEN) inspectors in IMPEL projects implemented in EU member states. The topics covered were IPPC and Seveso II directives, EMAS, minimum criteria for environmental inspections, organisation of inspection, reportingand conclusions from site visits, operator self-monitoring, permitting systems and enforceability of permit conditions,BAT and production of BREF documents. National training programmes were organised in Albania, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Romania and Serbia and Montenegro. The BERCEN Training Manual forEnvironmental Inspectors was published. The BERCEN 2nd Plenary Meeting in September 2003 in FYR Macedoniaassessed the results from the network operations in the period 2001-2003 and agreed on the work plan for 2003-2006.

[ K E Y A C H I E V E M E N T S ] S E T T I N G T H E S T A G E

Ah Lucifer! Just look

back at our planet,

the flowers were first to

vanish from our sight,

and then the trembling

branches of the forests;

Our well-known haunts,

a hundred favourite nooks

have levelled down,

become a featureless plain.

Whatever thrilled us has

been washed away.

Now even the cliffs have

shrunk to useless clods...

Imre Madacs

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[YET A DROP TO DRINK] A lush lake in the Mazury district of north-eastPoland maintains much of its original beauty. (Left)

Bulgaria and Serbia and Montenegro’s Stara Planinaregion allows possibilities that can benefit both theeconomy and natural resources. (Below left)

Several lakes outside of Bekescsaba, Hungary are devoted to fishing — evidence that the region has the resources to meet both recreational desires and daily needs. (Below right)

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[ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCING] The Environmental Financing in Central Eastern Europe 1996-2001 reportwas an important REC contribution to the Kiev ministerial conference. The report summarised trends in environmentalfinancing, taking into account both domestic sources of finance and international assistance provided. The reporthighlighted key changes in the region that occurred between 1996 and 2001 and proposed recommendations forfurther improvements in the area of environmental financing.

The Priority Environmental Investment Programme (PEIP) for South Eastern Europe was developed and published. The PEIP identified pressure reduction targets for the SEE region, identified hot spots for main environmental sectors(air, waste and water) and developed a pipeline of priority environmental investment projects from South EasternEurope. Additionally, the project website was created: www.rec.org/REC/Programs/REREP/Environmental Financing/.

Two regional meetings related to capacity building were organised for members of the Network of EnvironmentalFinance Specialists from South Eastern Europe. A study tour to Poland was organised in November for the networkmembers to see successful examples of environmental investments that were implemented in a large Polish cityand in a cross-border area. The Assessment of the Institutional and Policy Framework was conducted and pub-lished for all SEE countries, including Romania and Bulgaria.

A performance review of the National Trust EcoFund in Bulgaria was conducted and a final report was developed.

[BIODIVERSITY] Strategic plans for the period of 2003-2008 were elaborated for each of the cross-border sites withinthe Transboundary Cooperation Through Management of Shared Natural Resources project — Shkoder Lake(SCG/Albania); Neretva River Delta (Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia); and West Stara Planina (SCG/Bulgaria). The overall goal of the project is to enhance coordination and cooperation between countries and communities in themanagement of shared natural resources. National reports identified important plant areas in SEE, including cross-bordersites. A Forum on Biodiversity and Tourism in South East Europe was organised in Sofia, Bulgaria. Recommendationshave been agreed for the promotion of ecotourism in the region, including a variety of joint activities.

[PUBLIC TRANSPORT] Representatives of public transport companies and municipalities from the capitals of thenew EU member states and EU candidate countries met in Szentendre, Hungary to review the status of public trans-port and its current needs. Discussions were based on case studies from Warsaw, Tallinn and Sofia. Joint conclusionsidentifying future activities were agreed. The REC also contributed to the Urban Transport Benchmarking Initiative,which is aimed at developing and exchanging best practices for urban transport (see www.transportbenchmarks.org).

[SEA] Strategic environmental assessment aims to integrate environmental, economic and social concerns into decision making, and to set conditions for environmentally sound implementation of strategic decisions. The programme reaches beyond the CEE region to assist EECCA countries, South America and even China. In 2003 the REC finalised the SEA Training Manual for SEE, which enables users to obtain information on trendsand developments in SEA, and provides illustrative examples on five countries. The manual will be used as a basisfor a REC/UNECE training resource manual for the SEA Protocol to the Espoo Convention. The programme alsoimplemented several assessments in the CEE region.

[ K E Y A C H I E V E M E N T S ] S E T T I N G T H E S T A G E

[EAGLE-EYED] The REC supported an international campaign tostop the smuggling of threatened and endangeredbirds and crack down on black markets.

Information Programme[LIBRARY] As one of its most important tools, the REC’s in-house library continues to expand. The largest collection of environmental information in English in CEE has grown to over 10,000 publications, including books,grey literature, videos, CD-ROMs, and periodicals. In 2003 the environmental information reference service servednot only individuals, but other environmental libraries as well. Its online catalogue and a new screening facility forcontacting the REC via its website enabled users to make the most of the REC’s information services.

[SEE ENVIRONMENT WATCH AND SERVICES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISTS] The RegionalEnvironmental Press Centre, developed within the REC’s REReP 2.1 project, launched a bi-weekly news tip sheetand opened its services in Skopje, Bucharest and Sofia. In addition, a four-day practical training was offered to agroup of environmental journalists from the SEE region. Journalists from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia,Moldova and Ukraine were trained on how to take advantage of Aarhus Convention requirements.

[ENVIRONMENTAL NGO ELECTRONIC NETWORKING] The second regional electronic networking con-ference and workshop was organised in Kosovo to promote electronic networks of environmental NGO to donorsand the media, to review activities since the first regional meeting and to map out further plans for cooperation.Implementation of the Italian-funded component of this project got underway with the organisation of three studytours to Rome for NGO network representatives from South Eastern Europe. Altogether more than 20 participantsfrom SEE have benefited from training and introductions to Italian NGOs, networks and media that parallel activi-ties in their own countries.

[THE BULLETIN] Four issues of The Bulletin, the REC’s flagship magazine, were produced and sent to more than 3,000 subscribers worldwide. One of the issues was a special edition for the Kiev ministerial conference. A marketing survey was carried out that will pave the way for the 2004 transformation of the magazine into Green Horizon, which will contain even more expert journalism and accept sponsorship from patrons.

[DEVELOPING NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS] A regional workshop involving more than 50 participants took place in Sofia to review and evaluate progress in SEE countries andexchange experiences accumulated during the two-and-a-half-year project. Both government and NGO representatives contributed enthusiastically to and benefited from three-hour training sessions on strategic communications and Internet/Intranet webpage design. Future priorities for continuing the development ofnational environmental information systems under a second phase were mapped with contributions from the EEA and the Aarhus Convention Secretariat, and were included in a similarly titled regional report published inAugust 2003. The report also provided country-by-country summaries of current progress in system development,their individual action plans/strategies for future development and NGO perspectives on information access.

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[SPELUNKING] Propast Cave in Bulgaria was mapped by students during an educational excursion supported by REReP.

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[PART OF THE SOLUTION] Whether it is farming along organic principles,keeping watch over a nest of threatened birds, or teaching children to respect the environment, it is people, and only people, who can provide futuregenerations with an environment worth living in.

Italian Trust FundThe activities and support of the Italian Trust Fund (ITF) plays an important role in the environmental protectionand sustainable development of Central and Eastern Europe. The auspices of ITF reach beyond financial sponsorship to provide valuable contributions to all beneficiaries.

[SUSTAINABILITY] ITF assisted the REC in promoting sustainability in the region by running a training course onstrategies, methodologies and policies for sustainable development for several countries of CEE. It also funded sustainable agriculture projects (Poland, Romania) that promoted less-polluting technologies and strengthened localresearch capabilities. ITF advocated practices promoting the use of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency.Support went to REC projects (Croatia, Bulgaria) aimed at building capacity to plan and implement measures.

[CAPACITY BUILDING] Activities were initiated to improve CEE countries’ capacity to absorb funding availablefrom the EU and other sources (Poland, Slovenia). ITF also focused on providing support to governmental institutions to further develop their institutional capacity. It assisted environmental institutions in Bosnia andHerzegovina, both at the entity and state level, and within the framework of economic reconstruction in SEE.

[INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS] ITF funded projects that provide the REC with the possibility to support multi-lateral agreements, such as the Aarhus Convention and the Carpathian Convention, by facilitating their implementation.

[NGOS] ITF assisted the REC in promoting environmental protection by fostering the advancement of civil society.To this end, ITF funded the development of management capabilities of young environmentalists and supported atelecommunications network for environmentalist NGOs.

[SEA] The REC received assistance in the international codification of modern SEA systems within the Environmentfor Europe process and the Rio+10 process. ITF also supported pilot SEAs of national programming documents forfuture use in the Structural Funds.

Japan Special FundDuring the Japanese fiscal year of 2003 (April 2003 – March 2004) the Japan Special Fund supported four REC projects carried over from the previous fiscal year, and the following new projects: Environmental InformationEducation and Public Awareness: Phase II (CO Bulgaria); Support for the Implementation of the Kyoto Protocol inCEE countries: Promotion of the Kyoto Protocol (Climate Change Programme); Support to the Macedonian LegalSystem with Development of International EIA Guidelines in FYR Macedonia (CO FYR Macedonia); RegionalMunicipal Waste Management (CO Serbia and Montenegro); and Water Sector Strengthening and Support to theSava Agreement Implementation (CO Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Highlights of the newly supported projects include the opening of the Environmental Information Center in Sofia,Bulgaria, for the facilitation of public access to environmental information in Bulgaria, and the preparation of acomprehensive regional municipal waste management plan for the Sabac region of Serbia.

fifteen

❈ A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 3 ❈

S E T T I N G T H E S T A G E [ K E Y A C H I E V E M E N T S ]

Think not forever of

yourselves, O Chiefs, nor

of your own generation.

Think of continuing

generations of our families,

think of our grandchildren

and of those yet unborn,

whose faces are coming

from beneath the ground.

T.S. Eliot

sixteen

❈ A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 3 ❈

Local and Regional Development Programme [LEAPS] This programme implemented several projects within local environmental action plans (LEAPs). A workshop on LEAP implementation promoted the transfer of methodology and experience from CEE to regionalenvironmental centres in the EECCA region (the Caucasus, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, and Central Asia). The trainingalso involved participants working out preliminary needs assessments related to LEAP for their own countries.

A side event at the Kiev ministerial conference entitled “How can we continue to improve the LEAP Model to serveas a useful tool for communities?” brought together members of the REC’s LEAP Practitioners’ Network to presentand discuss LEAP as an effective tool for implementing national legislation, EU requirements, and internationalcommitments such as the Aarhus Convention and Local Agenda 21.

[ASSISTING MUNICIPALITIES] The REC assisted nine municipalities in Romania and Serbia and Montenegro to pre-pare their environmental infrastructure projects for financing. The municipalities were able to submit the prepared pro-jects to EU pre-accession financing programmes in Romania and national project pipelines in Serbia and Montenegro.

[ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTMENTS AND PARTNERSHIPS] Cooperation with Slovenia, the Italian Ministryfor Environment and Territory and REC Country Office Poland led to the initiation of two events. The project aimsto foster partnerships between Italian environmental enterprises and Polish and Slovenian local and regionalauthorities for priority environmental investment projects.

[CROSS-BORDER MUNICIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION] Within the framework of the DrinaRiver Basin project — in cooperation with REC Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and REC FieldOffice Banja Luka — the programme held the Cross-Border Municipal Environmental Cooperation project’s FirstStakeholder Forum. Stakeholders agreed to a conceptual solution involving the use of floating water cleaner combined with preventive activities to address awareness and education about solid waste management.

NGO Support Programme[GRANTS FOR NGOS] The NGO grants component of the Danube Regional Project was announced to NGOs inMarch 2003. The programme is aimed at reducing nutrients and covers 11 countries of the Danube basin. It includesnational and regional grants totalling USD 1.5 million, available over a period of four years. Regional proposals wereevaluated and, coupled with the national grants of the first round, USD 700,000 of projects were selected. Also, a new programme was launched for grants developing regional NGO sustainable development activities. Funded by the European Commission, the programme targets the countries of the western Balkans. In addition to these newfunds, the already awarded projects under the REReP 2.5.1 Development and Strengthening of NGOs (Germany)and Supporting NGOs within and beyond CEE borders (Denmark) calls for their continued implementation.

[ K E Y A C H I E V E M E N T S ] S E T T I N G T H E S T A G E

[RUN OFF] Agriculture is often a source of surface water illssuch as eutrophication. One campaign seeks to educate farmers in the Black Sea area to reduce unsound practices.

[SUPPORT FOR NGOS AT KIEV CONFERENCE] Through targeted grants supporting NGO input to theKiev ministerial conference, environmentalists were able to cooperate at the regional level and formulate theirpositions on key agenda issues. The participation of 18 CEE NGO leaders in Kiev was also made possible bythese grants. The agenda of the ECO-Forum, a parallel NGO conference, was enriched by side events andworkshops organised by REC grantees. In addition, the REC organised a special session on NGO funding and self-financing.

[SUPPORTING LOCAL ADMINISTRATIONS] Local Authority Grants 2002 aimed to improve the implementationand enforcement of Environmental legislation applicable at the local level and to build public awareness on EU environmental legislation, and its costs and benefits. Fifteen municipalities were awarded a total grant of EUR 213,299 to support them in managing projects that address primarily waste- water- and air-pollution issues by tackling the aspects of implementation of EU environmental legislation and awareness raising components.

[DANUBE: EUROPE IS MEETING] A variety of stakeholders from civil society organisations, local authoritiesand government ministries were brought together under the Danube: Europe is Meeting project to discuss a gamutof issues relating to the creation of a broader Europe — one that includes the Balkans. The event focused on newstrategies for environmental awareness raising and participatory water management in the framework of theEuropean Union enlargement process.

Public Participation Programme[IMPLEMENTING THE AARHUS CONVENTION] In the framework of Practical Tools for Public Participation,a project covering eight countries of the CEE/EECCA region and aiming to facilitate implementation of the provisions of Article 6 of the Aarhus Convention, four trainings took place in Moldova and Ukraine. The sessionsfocused on practical aspects of applying the convention and supported the implementation of NGO grants provided earlier for this topic.

During 2003, Aarhus Convention user guides were drafted at regional and national levels for officials and civilsociety to facilitate implementation in six EECCA countries. The guides will be published in English and locallanguages. Training of trainers and national trainings were held for officials, NGOs and other stakeholders inUkraine, Armenia and Azerbaijan in November and December to help with implementation of national pilot projects within a EuropeAid-funded project.

The pilot projects deal with implementation of the Aarhus Convention in one concrete field, such as improvingpublic access to information through more efficient mechanisms for active and passive dissemination of information,introducing new procedures and better implementation practices on access to information or public participation indecision making for the ministries of environment regarding their obligations under the convention.

seventeen

❈ A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 3 ❈

S E T T I N G T H E S T A G E [ K E Y A C H I E V E M E N T S ]

[ROYAL DECREE] Efforts to save the imperial eagle involve a variety of activities from nest monitoring to public awareness raising.

eighteen

❈ A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 3 ❈

[REGIONAL RECONSTRUCTION] Two Steering Committee meetings and a closing workshop was held inOctober within the REReP project Support Developing Strategy for Implementation of the Aarhus Convention toevaluate the achievements and impact of the project. The meeting was attended by governmental and NGO Aarhusfocal points from six SEE countries, donor representatives, the Secretary of the Aarhus Convention, the ECO Forumand REC experts. By the end of the year, country strategies and action plans for implementation of the AarhusConvention had been discussed with different stakeholders and finalised in the SEE countries. Within the project, a study tour was organised for five governmental officials and NGOs from Albania to learn from the experience and good practices of the Hungarian ministries and agencies, as well as for NGOs regarding public access to environmental information. Five NGOs from Bosnia and Herzegovina studied the cooperation of NGOs and officialson Aarhus Convention implementation in Hungary. Among the final activities, several local language guides andmanuals on practical implementation of the Aarhus Convention were finalised, and trainings were held in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, FYR Macedonia, Romania and Serbia and Montenegro on access to environmental information, public participation and access to justice matters.

[PRTRS] The draft of the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTR) was finalised at the finalworking group meeting of UNECE in January with the contribution of programme experts and submitted for signature at the Kiev ministerial conference. Multi-stakeholder roundtable meetings were held in several accessionand SEE countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Serbia andMontenegro and Slovakia, and pilot projects on introducing PRTR systems were implemented in Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Poland . The series of roundtables were part of a project on the Aarhus PRTR Protocol. The roundtables brought together NGOs and government officials from different ministries and agencies to discuss the content and future implementation of the protocol.

[RIVER BASIN STRATEGY] Members of the Public Participation Programme participated in the expert groupmeetings and a workshop organised by the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River(ICPDR) to develop the Danube River Basin Strategy for Public Participation in River Basin Management Planning2003-2009 (for the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive). The strategy was adopted at the Junemeeting of ICPDR. REC experts were also involved in developing a component on public participation within thenew phase of Danube Regional Project.

[ K E Y A C H I E V E M E N T S ] S E T T I N G T H E S T A G E

nineteen

twenty

❈ A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 3 ❈

The play loses a great deal

of its meaning if it is robbed

of a magic which springs,

not from the glittering tip

of a department-store

wand, but from the earth,

the stones, the very air of

the wood; and a magic

which is not merely pretty

but dark and dangerous.

Tyrone Guthrie

twenty-one

❈ A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 3 ❈

Just as a performance must have an even balance of events, so the REC maintains a balance in itsoperations — a balance between learning andteaching, between acquiring and distributing, and between planning and executing. The following pages present the REC’s financialbalance with uncompromising transparency, which is at the heart of the REC’s mission.

BALANCE SHEET (All amounts in EUR 000’s) December 31,2003

2003 2002

ASSETS

Current Assets:Cash 3,405 3,385Term deposit – 1,955 Prepaid expenses and accrued income 239 207Country Office prepayments 1,117 1,155Receivables 6,988 8,586

Total current assets 11,749 15,288

Fixed assets, net 1,059 1,120 TOTAL ASSETS 12,808 16,408

LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCES

Current Liabilities:Accounts payable and accruals 10,280 12,598 Grants payable 148 1,686

Total current liabilities 10,428 14,284

Interfund transfers – –Fund balance 2,380 2,124

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCES 12,808 16,408

STATEMENT OF REVENUE, EXPENSE AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCES (All amounts in EUR 000’s) December 31,2003

2003 2002

REVENUESCash contributions 11,042 10,820 Internal charges 46 42 Interest income 4,420 3,900 Other 116 167

TOTAL REVENUE 15,624 14,929

EXPENSESDirect programme expenses 8,374 7,180Internal charges 4,420 3,900 Grants and awards 730 2,667 Administration 1,151 1,141 Depreciation 250 237 Foreign exchange gain/loss 443 319

TOTAL EXPENSES 15,368 15,444

Excess (deficiency) of revenues over expenses: 256 (515)Fund balances at the beginning of year 2,124 2,631Interfund equilibration – 8

FUND BALANCES AT THE END OF YEAR 2,380 2,124

S E T T I N G T H E S T A G E [ F I N A N C I A L I N F O R M A T I O N ]

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

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

have audited the accompanying balance sheet of the Regional Environmental Center for Central andEastern Europe (the Organisation) as of December 31, 2003, and the related statements of revenue,expense and changes in fund balances and cash flows for the year then ended. These financial statements

are the responsibility of the Organisation's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing. Those Standards require that we plan andperform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well asevaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements give a true and fair view of the financial position of the Organisation as of December 31, 2003, and of the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance withInternational Financial Reporting Standards.

Ernst & YoungBudapest, Hungary • March 12, 2004

We

❈ A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 3 ❈

STATEMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONS December 31,2003

Donor Contributions 2003 Total Contributions 1990-2003 In-kind Contributions 1990-2003

EUR EUR EUR

Albania 76,866Austria 522,625Belgium 70,200 243,207Bosnia and Herzegovina 93,148 151,672Bulgaria 23,932Canada 759,770Croatia 8,300 28,679 6,350Czech Republic 36,378 174,815Denmark 732,228 3,844,849Estonia 8,308 46,738European Union 3,746,145 17,869,605Finland 215,646 1,151,451France 25,683Germany 386,880 1,549,009 345,646Hungary 15,703 757,425 1,231,134Italy 915,000 2,966,533 350,427Japan 395,607 11,841,923 559,715Latvia 10,051 93,280Lithuania 5,480FYR Macedonia 166,071Netherlands 1,230,616 7,969,298New Zealand 14,048Norway 337,729 2,161,003Poland 86,153 229,825Sweden 246,601 434,280Switzerland 260,095 2,513,638Slovakia 353,923Slovenia 53,198 177,443United Kingdom 174,772 845,282United States 382,446 11,294,417 52,280UN/UNMIK 272,313 2,143,765 3,846Serbia and Montenegro 2,617 37,521Other 416,123 2,922,221 497TOTAL 10,096,257 73,396,277 2,549,895

twenty-two

❈ A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 3 ❈

The nervous system of

any age or nation is its

creative workers, its artists.

And if that nervous system

is profoundly disturbed

by its environment,

the work it produces will

inescapably reflect the

disturbances, sometimes

obliquely and sometimes

with violent directness.

Tennessee Williams

the time an actor takes the stage, countless hundreds, if not thousands of hours have gone into sewingthe costumes, setting the lighting cues, recording the sound effects and selecting just the right props for a performance. In the same vein, before any birds are saved or pollution monitored, an enormous

amount of time has gone into announcing programmes, reviewing proposals, verifying credentials andtransfering funds. Effective grant distribution requires years of experience — something the REC has.

For more than a decade the REC has been distributing grants throughout Central and Eastern Europe in a fair andtransparent manner. Our in-house experts maintain contracts throughout the region, allowing us to evaluate a widevariety of proposals fairly and accurately. The quest for sustainable development must take place at all levels, and the REC is proud to have supported the projects listed in the following pages.

H E A D O F F I C E

REReP 2.6: Environmental Legal Advocacy/Advisory Centers in South Eastern Europe (ELAAC)Donor: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the NetherlandsOrganisation Project Title EUR

Marija Harangozo, Novi Sad Womens’ Centre Legal Advisory on the Issues of Environmental Protection and Improvement 5,468

Sreten Djordjevic, Legal Advocacy First Step 5,918and Advisory Centre of Serbia

Access to Information Programme Enhancing Free Access to Environmental Information 6,000Foundation (AIP)

Andrea Szabo, OTUS Society Measuring the Capacity of Using Legal Assistance of Environmental Protection NGOs in Romania 4,985for Nature Protection

Journalists Legal Environmental Center ERINA Environmental Public Advocacy Center 9,830

TOTAL: 32,201

A L B A N I A

REReP 4.3.23 Transboundary Cooperation Through the Management of Shared Natural Resources — Shkoder LakeDonor: Swiss Agency for Development and CooperationOrganisation Project Title EUR

Luigj Gurakuqi University, Shkoder Universities: Important Centers for Environmental Education 3,180

Rainbow Youth Environmental Organisation Partners in the Protection of the Transboundary Resources of Shkoder Lake 3,920

Center for Farmer Training Eternal Values: Joint Descriptive Photo Album of Shkoder Lake 3,835

Regional Environmental Agency Collecting Data and Raising Awareness for the Protected Areas Status of the Shkodra Lake/Buna River/Vilun Area 3,125

Albanian Association for Transboundary Values Fair: Tradition Revitalisation 4,340Environmental Education, Shkoder

TOTAL 18,400

twenty-three

❈ A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 3 ❈

S E T T I N G T H E S T A G E [ G R A N T S A W A R D E D ]

By

wenty-four

❈ A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 3 ❈

B O S N I A A N D H E R Z E G O V I N A

REReP 4.3.23 Transboundary Cooperation Through the Management of Shared Natural Resources — Neretva Delta SiteDonor: Swiss Agency for Development and CooperationOrganisation Project Title EUR

Dunjac Biletici-Citluk, Cleaning, Arranging and Revitalisation of Fishing Areas 3,000Sport Fishermen’s Association

Civil Engineering Faculty, University of Mostar Morphological Characteristics and Legends of the Neretva River Basin 3,000

Institute for Public Health, Mostar Healthy Schools for a Healthy Future 2,000

Hutovo Blato Nature Park Karaotok-Capljina Protection of Wild Horses in the Hutovo Blato Area 3,000

Faculty of Agronomy, University of Mostar Possibilities for Establishing a Temperate Freshwater Fish Farm 3,000

Croatian Agronomy Association of the Developing the Ecological Awareness of Elementary Students Through the Farming 2,000Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina on School Grounds of Endemic Vegetable Species from the Neretva Delta Region

Wetland Nature Association, Capljina Gaining Knowledge and Learning How to Use Endemic, Medicinal Plants from the Herzegovina Karst 2,000

Our Beautiful Homeland, Capljina Ecology through Practical Teaching — Eco-classes in Nature 2,000

TOTAL 20,000

B U L G A R I A

ReREP 4.3.23 Transboundary Cooperation Through the Management of Shared Natural Resources — West Stara PlaninaDonor: Swiss Agency for Development and CooperationOrganisation Project Title EUR

Youth Center for Development Local Natural Values: A Source of Livelihoods, Culture and Life 1,849of Belogradchik Municipality

Balkan Civil Coalition, Belogradchik West Stara Planina: Natural and Cultural Attractions 1,994

Chiprovtzi Patriotic Society Preservation and Enrichment of Biodiversity in the Chiprovtzi Region 1,850

Council of Tourism, Chiprovtzi Natural Coloring, an Ancient Tradition for the Chiprovtzi Carpet: An Alternative for Tourism Development 1,640

Hristo Botev Culture House, Chuprene Initiation of Ecotourism in the Village of Chuprene 1,800

Ivan Vazov Culture House, Berkovitza West Balkan: With Clean Nature and Preserved Cultural Values 1,900

Information Business Center for Old Mountain, New Bridges 1,000Regional Development, Belogradchik

Nature Conservation Society, Belogradchik Promotion of Natural Attractions and Biodiversity of West Stara Planina 1,996

Organization of Bulgarian Scouts, Exploration of the Natural, Historical and Cultural Values of the Zbegove Eco-Trail 1,965Belogradchishki Skali Scouts Club

Belogradchik Rocks Tourist Association, Preservation and Conservation of the Karst Forms of the Belogradchik Anticline 1,992Belogradchik

Balkan United Sports Club Preservation of Protected Ancient Trees on the Territory of Belogradchik, Berkovitza, 1,479Chiprovtzi and Chuprene Municipalities

TOTAL 19,465

[ G R A N T S A W A R D E D ] S E T T I N G T H E S T A G E

twenty-five

❈ A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 3 ❈

The real test of a man is

not how well he plays

the role he has invented

for himself, but how well

he plays the role that

destiny assigned to him.

Jan Patocka

twenty-six

❈ A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 3 ❈

C R O A T I A

REReP 4.3.23 Transboundary Cooperation Through the Management of Shared Natural Resources — Neretva Delta SiteDonor: Swiss Agency for Development and CooperationOrganisation Project Title EUR

Our Beautiful Homeland, Metkovic Amphibians in Neretva Delta 2,800

Healthy Town Metkovic and Eleonora, Biodiversity of Neretva Delta: Practical Education for Children 4,350Zagreb on the Richness and Preservation Needs of Flora and Fauna in the Area

Speleologist, Split and Matrix Croatica, Significant Caves in Lower Neretva Valley 4,150Opuzen

Waterlilly, Opuzen Sustainable Use of Chemicals in Agriculture 4,200

Don Mihovil Pavlinovic Primary School, Let’s Learn About Norin River Vegetation 1,500Metkovic

Our Beautiful Homeland, Ploce Eco-Bulletin for School Children in Ploce 3,000

TOTAL 20,000

E S T O N I A

Grant Programme of the Environmental Ministry of FinlandDonor: Environmental Ministry of FinlandOrganisation Project Title EUR

Vonnukivi Building the Camping Site Cleaning up Dunes at Soomaa Nature Park 315

Estonian Fund for Nature Forest Media Chamber in Ida-Viru County 1,000

Junior Achievement Development Foundation Sustainable Thinking: The Only Opportunity for Economy Leaders 2,500

Kullamaa Arboretum Disseminating Nature on the Trail 1,448

TOTAL 5,263

L A T V I A

Grant Programme of the Environmental Ministry of FinlandDonor: Environmental Ministry of FinlandOrganisation Project Title EUR

Children Environmental School Clean Water and Clean Coast 1,400

Selija Region Development Center Involvement of Schools in Ziemelsuseja River Basin Protection Activities 325

Latvian Ornithological Society No Wetlands – No Water! 1,487

Bioma Environmental Studies Club Clean Springs in Kuldiga District 1,325

Nature Friends Club Contest for Schools of Preili District: Nature School on Aqua 726

TOTAL 5,263

[ G R A N T S A W A R D E D ] S E T T I N G T H E S T A G E

L I T H U A N I A

Grant Programme of the Environmental Ministry of FinlandDonor: Environmental Ministry of FinlandOrganisation Project Title EUR

Sietuva Club Public Awareness Raising and Collaboration to Protect Amphibia on the Road in Stervas Nature Reserve 913

Viola, inter-school environmental club, Youth Environmental School: Promotion and Environmental Movement in the Utenos Region 890Utena region

Leliunai, local community, Utena region In Beautiful Village: United Community 1,000

Samylai Community Centre Sustainable Development Information Centre 980

Liepija Improvement of Living Conditions of Local People of Zemaitija National Park 1,000Through Provision of Information Concerning EU Requirements

TOTAL 4,783

R O M A N I A

Supporting NGOs Within and Beyond CEE BordersDonor: Danish Environmental Protection AgencyOrganisation Project Title EUR

Floare de Colt Best Waste Management Practice for Cluj-Napoca City 4,200

Amonit Speological and Ecological Club Household Waste Management Model for the Rural Communities in Mountain Areas 2,740

EarthVoice Romania The Children: Actors of Change 4,000

Trascau Corp Household Waste Management in the Valtori Valley 2,042

Service Civil International, Romania Plastic Waste: Major Polluting Factor in Danube Delta 4,748

Bio’Logic Association Waste and the Press 3,100

Horizont Association Waste and Forest: The Future of Covasna County 4,170

TOTAL 25,000

S E R B I A A N D M O N T E N E G R O

REReP 4.3.23 Transboundary Cooperation Through the Management of Shared Natural Resources — West Stara PlaninaDonor: Swiss Agency for Development and CooperationOrganisation Project Title EUR

Timok Club, Knjazevac West Stara Planina: New Bridges 1,885

Gurgusovac Education Association West Stara Planina: Cultural and Natural Sights 1,200

Logos Teachers Association, Pirot Along the Paths of Stara Planina for Better Cooperation between Nations 1,957

Association for Guarding and Development Colours of the Pirot’s Kilim 1,990of the Pirot’s Kilim Weaving

twenty-seven

❈ A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 3 ❈

S E T T I N G T H E S T A G E [ G R A N T S A W A R D E D ]

wenty-eight

❈ A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 3 ❈

REReP 4.3.23 Transboundary Cooperation Through the Management of Shared Natural Resources — West Stara Planina continuedOrganisation Project Title EUR

Pirgos Civic Library, Pirot Guidebook through West Stara Planina 1,200

Municipal Cultural Center, Pirot Traditional Cattle Raising on West Stara Planina and its Perspectives 1,968

Caribrod Cultural Informative Center Holy Places of the Caribrod Region 800

Network of Four Municipalities Capacity Building of Municipalities of Zajecar, Knjazevac Pirot and Dimitrovgrad 9,000on West Stara Planina

TOTAL 20,000

REReP 4.3.23 Transboundary Cooperation Through the Management of Shared Natural Resources — Skadar Lake Project Donor: Swiss Agency for Development and CooperationOrganisation Project Title EUR

Center for Bird Protection and Research Discover Skadar Lake 5,000

LYNX Animal World Preservation Society Skadar Lake: Source of Healthy Food 3,446

Group for Sustainable Development Promotion of Eco-tours on Skadar Lake 3,000and Euro Integration

Skadar Lake National Park Information Center 4,946

Montenegrin Royal Yachting Club Lake Without Borders 3,422

TOTAL 19,814

[ G R A N T S A W A R D E D ] S E T T I N G T H E S T A G E

twenty-nine

❈ A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 3 ❈

Life’s splendour forever

lies in wait about each

one of us in all its fullness,

but veiled from view,

deep down, invisible,

far off. It is there, though,

not hostile, not reluctant,

not deaf. If you summon

it by the right word, by its

right name, it will come.

Franz Kafka

thirty

❈ A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 3 ❈

All the World’s a stage and

all the men and women

merely players, they have

their exits and their

entrances and one man

in his life plays many parts,

his act being seven stages.

William Shakespeare

the early 1990s, common needs were characteristic of the 15 Central and Eastern (CEE) countries compris-ing the emerging REC constituency. At the beginning of the political changes, much of the environmentalheritage for countries in the region seemed similar in nature. By the year 2000, however, the REC benefici-

aries became more diversified because of differences in the evolution of political, social and economic processes. Theone remaining overarching theme from the late 1980s is the quest for sustainability, which is now supported by manymultilateral agreements, including those forming the legal basis of the EU.

The countries of the region evolved into five strategic beneficiary group areas with special environmental problems,differing political statuses, donor interests, and funding opportunities that shifted along with these changes. The newbeneficiary groups of a larger CEE area can today be identified as:

• new EU member states (joining May 2004);

• countries negotiating their accession to the EU (candidate countries);

• Balkan Stability Pact countries (SEE);

• NIS/EECCA countries; and

• Turkey.

This development requires new approaches that provide a better platform for reflecting both the realities of the beneficiarygroups’ needs and the priorities and requirements of potential funding sources. The REC focuses its efforts on well-devel-oped fields of expertise, while also securing resources for knowledge creation and management that contribute to a widen-ing of in-house expertise in several areas with the aim of further strengthening its centres of excellence.

Many new projects and initiatives provide focused support to new groups of REC beneficiaries. The Course forSustainability for key governmental officials, for example, assists SEE countries within the implementation of theRegional Environmental Reconstruction Programme for South Eastern Europe (REReP).

The official opening of the REC’s 16th country office — based on the bilateral agreement with the government ofTurkey — was held in May, 2004. The REC will cooperate closely with Turkish authorities and environmental stake-holders in supporting and facilitating Turkey’s accession to the EU.

thirty-one

❈ A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 3 ❈

S E T T I N G T H E S T A G E [ S T R A T E G I C D I R E C T I O N 2 0 0 4 ]

In

thirty-two

❈ A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 3 ❈

[ B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S & G E N E R A L A S S E M B L Y ] S E T T I N G T H E S T A G E

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Corrado Clini*DIRECTOR GENERAL • Department for EnvironmentalResearch and Development • Ministry for the Environmentand Territory of ItalyCHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Soledad BlancoHEAD OF UNIT • Enlargement and NeighbouringCountries • Environment Directorate General • EuropeanCommission

Nadya BonevaEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR • Time Ecoprojects Foundation •Bulgaria

Zuzana Drhova***EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR • Zeleny Kruh (Green Circle) •Czech Republic

Tom Garvey***Belgium

Allan Gromov**DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL • InternationalCooperation • Ministry of Environment • Estonia

Robert HerbstCO-FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL • Global Environment &Technology Foundation • USA

Palle Lindgaard Joergensen***HEAD OF DIVISION • Division of Danish Cooperation forEnvironment in Easter Europe (DANCEE) • DanishEnvironmental Protection Agency

Jon OpemSENIOR ADVISOR • Department for InternationalCooperation • Norwegian Ministry of the Environment

Istvan PomaziCHIEF ADVISOR • Department for Strategic Planning •Ministry of Environment and Water • Hungary

Yukio YanagisawaPROFESSOR OF ENVIRONMENT SYSTEMS • Departementof Environmental Science • Graduate School of FrontierScience • University of Tokyo • School of FrontierSciences • Institute of Environmental Studies

* Chairman from November 8, 2003** Chairman until November 8, 2003*** Served as a board member until October 2003

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLYJAAKKO HENTTONENConsul • Consulate General of Finland • Russia

ALBANIAPELLUMB ABESHI General Secretary • Ministry of Environment

AUSTRIAMANFRED SCHNEIDER Director • International Affairs Department •Federal Ministry of Environment, Youth andFamily

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINAMAJA TAUBMAN-BEVANDA Professional Assistant • Federal Ministry ofPhysical Planning and Environment

BULGARIAEMILIA KRAEVA Deputy Minister • Ministry of the Environmentand Waters

CANADANORINE SMITHAssistant Deputy Minister, Policy andCommunications • Ministry of Environment

CROATIAVISNJA JELIC-MUCK State Secretary for Environment • Ministry ofEnvironmental Protection and Physical Planningand Construction

CZECH REPUBLICLENKA KAROVA Director • Department of Strategies • Ministry ofEnvironment

DENMARKTHOMAS BECKER Head of International Department • The MinistersSecretariat • Ministry of Environment

ESTONIASULEV VARE Secretary General • Ministry of the Environment

EUROPEAN COMMISSIONSOLEDAD BLANCO Head of Unit • Enlargement and NeighbouringCountries • European Commission • DGEnvironment

FINLANDLEENA VOUTILAINENSenior Advisor • Central and Eastern EuropeanCooperation • Environmental ProtectionDepartment • Ministry of the Environment

GERMANYDIETER GOTTLOB Division Environmental Strategies and Information• Federal Environmental Agency

HUNGARYTIBOR FARAGO Chief Head of Division, Cabinet of the Minister •Ministry of Environment and Water

ITALYMASSIMO COZZONEDepartment for Global Environment, Internationaland Regional Conventions • Ministry for theEnvironment and Territory

JAPANHIDEHIKO HAMADAMinister • Charge d’Affaires • Embassy of Japan• Hungary

LATVIAANDRIS EGLAJS Deputy State Secretary • Ministry of Environment

LITHUANIAEVALDAS VEBRA Senior Specialist • International Relations andAgreements • Department of EnvironmentalStrategy • Ministry of Environment

MALTAGEORGE PULLICINO Minister • Ministry for Home Affaires and theEnvironment

FYR MACEDONIADRAGOLJUB MATOVSKI Deputy Minister • Ministry of Environment andPhysical Planning

THE NETHERLANDSADRIAAN OUDEMAN Coordinator for Eastern Europe EnvironmentalAffairs • Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planningand Environment

NORWAYPAUL HOFSETH Special Advisor • Ministry of Environment

POLANDEWA OLESIEJUK Specialist • Department of InternationalCooperation • Ministry of EnvironmentalProtection, Natural Resources and Forestry

ROMANIAALINA CRISTINA VASCExpert • Department of International Programmesand Projects • Ministry of Environment andWater Management

SERBIA AND MONTENEGROMIHAJLO GAVRICDeputy Minister • Ministry for the Protection ofNatural Resources and Environment

SLOVAKIAKAMIL VILINOVIC Director • Department for European Affairs •Ministry of the Environment

SLOVENIAMARKO SLOKARState Secretary for Environment • Ministry ofEnvironment Spatial Planning and Energy

SWITZERLANDJEAN-PIERRE EGGER Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation,Cooperation with Eastern Europe and CISDivision • Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

TURKEYABDURRAHMAN ULUIRMAKHead • Foreign Relations and EU Department •Ministry of Environment

UNITED STATESJUDITH E. AYRES Assistant Administrator • Office of InternationalAffairs • Environmental Protection Agency

CO-OPTED MEMBERSVLADIMIR DOBESDirector • EMPRESS, Czech MT Centre • CzechRepublic

BRENDAN GILLESPIE Head • Environment Directorate, Non-MemberCountries Branch • Organisation for EconomicCo-operation and Development • OECD •France

BEDRICH MOLDAN Director • Environmental Center • CharlesUniversity Prague • Czech Republic

ERZSEBET SCHMUCKVice-President • EEB • PresidentHungarian Association for Nature ConservationHungary

STANISLAW SITNICKI Vice-President • Ekofund • Poland

ANDREJ STEINERChief Advisor • Regional EnvironmentalGovernance Program • UNDP RBEC RegionalCenter • Bratislava • Slovakia

JERNEJ STRITIH Chairman of the Board • Oikos Inc.,Environmental Consulting • Slovenia

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❈ A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 3 ❈

REC PUBLICATIONS 2003

Aarhus Meets Kyoto • November 2003, ISBN: 963 9424 40 4

Assessing Environmental Law Drafting Needs in South Eastern Europe, REReP 1.3 Phase One ReportAugust 2003, ISBN: 963 9424 37 4

Creating Congruence: Highlights and Achievements of REC Activities in Central and Eastern Europe under the Environmental Action ProgrammeMay 2003, ISBN 963 9424 36 6

Developing a Priority Environmental Investment Programmefor South Eastern Europe • October 2003, ISBN: 963 9424 38 2

Developing and Implementing Integrated National PollutantRelease and Transfer Registers • May 2003, on-line version only

Developing Environmental Assessments and Comparing RisksOctober 2002, ISBN: 963 9424 14 5

DG ENV-NGO Dialogue Group, Summary of the SeventhMeeting • February 2003, ISBN: 963 9424 25 0

Environmental Enforcement and Compliance in South EasternEurope • February 2002, ISBN: 963 9424 29 3

Environmental Financing in Central and Eastern EuropeMay 2003, ISBN 963 9424 33 1

Governance Principles for Foreign Direct Investment inHazardous Activities • May 2003, on-line version only

Handbook on Access to Justice under the Aarhus ConventionMarch 2003, ISBN 963 9424 28 5

Highlights of the Regional Environmental ReconstructionProgramme for South Eastern EuropeMay 2003, ISBN 963 9424 34 x

Implementing Local Environmental Action Programmes in Central and Eastern EuropeSeptember 2003, ISBN: 963 9424 15 3

Investing in the Local Environment: Assisting Municipalities in South Eastern Europe to Access Environmental FinancingOctober 2003

Nature Conservation in Rural Policy (SAPARD programme)February 2003, ISBN 963 9424 30 7

Progress in the Implementation of the Aarhus Policy Statementon Environmental Management in Enterprises: Central andSouth Eastern Europe • May 2003, on-line version only

Regional Approach to the Management of Hazardous Waste in SEE Countries • August 2003

Snapshot of Environmental Information Systems in SouthEastern Europe: Current Progress and Future PrioritiesAugust 2003, ISBN: 963 9424 35 8

Training Manual for Environmental Inspectorates in South Eastern Europe • May 2003 ISBN: 963 9424 31 5

Developing Skills of NGOs: Series of 7 Training Manuals,(Albanian, Bulgarian, Croatian, English, Romanian and Serbian),on-line version only

Green Pack (Bulgarian and Hungarian) • 2003, ISBN: 963 942426 9 and 963 9424 32 3

Measuring Up: EIA Training Resource Manual for South EasternEurope • October 2003, ISBN 963 9424 30 7

CAST LIST [for Head Office production]

REC SENIOR MANAGEMENTMarta Szigeti Bonifert • Executive Director (from May 19, 2003) Toni Popovski • Executive Director (until May 18, 2003)Oreola Ivanova • Deputy Executive Director — Strategy and Development(from September 1, 2003)Alexander Juras • Deputy Executive Director — Outreach and Special ProgrammesZoltan Madaras • Deputy Executive Director — Finance and Administration(from September 1, 2003)Motoharu Yamazaki • Assistant Executive Director, Director of Japan SpecialFund and Head of Climate Change ProgrammeFrancesco Rizzo • Coordinator of Italian Trust Fund

REC DEPARTMENT AND PROGRAMME HEADSFerenc Andras • Administration DepartmentRobert Laszlo Nemeskeri • Business and Environment ProgrammeIlona Bonyine Docze • Conference DepartmentMelita Ivanova • Country Office Support Department (until March 31, 2003) Christie Duijvelaar • Country Office Support Department (from April 1, 2003)Stephen Stec • Environmental Law ProgrammeOreola Ivanova • Environmental Policy Programme (until August 31, 2003)Zoltan Madaras • Finance Department (until August 31, 2003)Maria Angyal • Human Resource DepartmentJerome Simpson • Information ProgrammeJennifer McGuinn • Local Initiatives ProgrammeRobert Atkinson • NGO Support and Capacity Building ProgrammesJozef Skultety • Office of the Executive Director (until May 31, 2003)Magdolna Tothne Nagy • Public Participation ProgrammeSylvia Magyar • Publishing Department (from April 1, 2003)

REC HEAD OFFICE STAFFPavel Antonov • Erzsebet Aszalos • Zarina Azizova • Judit Balint • Zsolt BauerJanos Banga • Tamas Becker • Helene Bertrand • Peter Bodo • MariannaBolshakova • Mihaly Bonifert • Tsvetelina Borissova • Anna Boros • NicholasBown • Stefan Bonsch • Lucia Brocato • Miroslav Chodak • Adriana CraciunIstvanne Dankovics • Kornelia Deak • Mihail Dimovski • Jiri Dusik • ZsuzsannaFejosne Ivanyi • Joanna Fiedler • Tsvetelina Filipova Borissova • AngelikaBrigitta Foldesi • Emese Gal • Janos Gelencser • Steven Graning • Istvan HegyiGabor Heves • Beata Horvath • Gabriella Jani • Tamas Janicsek • Paulina JaniakRousslan Jetchkov • Nathan Johnson • Ausra Jurkeviciute • Maria KhovanskaiaMozes Kiss • Violeta Kogalniceanu • Aniko Kovacs • Maria Kralj • GrazynaKrzywkowska • Tinatin Kvatchantiradze • Magdolna Lajti • Laszlo LeitoldTamas Magyar • Jolanta Manska • Ors Marczin • Katarina MareckovaBalazs Martini • Agata Miazga • Lubomira Mileva Kirilova • Kliment MindjovYordanka Minkova • Attila Morotz • Karoly Mozes • Robert Orban • VadimOstapenko • Peter Pal Pakot • Daniel Pazsitzky • Szilvia Pandine SzegediEva Peto • Entela Pinguli • Hajnalka Rab • Gabor Rehak • Eunice ReynekeDana Carmen Romanescu • Eszter Rozsa • Julianna Rumy • Balazs RuzsaTodd Schenk • Sergiu Dragos Serban • Graciela Simunovic • Kristiina SooneGregory Spencer • Cerasela Stancu • Andras Szabo • Csaba SzaboJozsef Szabo • Laszlo Nimrod Szabo • Orsolya Kinga Szalasi • Jozsef SzlezakKaidi Tingas • Andrea Toth • Danco Uzunov • Erika Varga • Barbara VertesKristina Vilimaite • Roman Vyhnanek • Krisztina Wegner • Janos Zlinszky

UNDERSTUDIES AND INTERNSZarina Azizova • Steve Brookes • Iiro Caarinen • Anthony DvarskasYumiko Fujii • Helena Grahn • Angela Hahlbrock • Judith KissAriyoshi Kusumi • Ruairidh Charles Mackenzie • Kety MateshviliSimon Milton • Todd Schenk • Nike Sommerwerk • Sjoerd SteenbergenPavel Steiner • Bela Szegezdy • Eugenija Tautkute • Jelica Vesic

CAST LIST [for Country Office productions]ALBANIA Directed by Mihallaq QirjoDiana Bejko • Eduart Cani • Jorida Gjonca • Genta Hoxha • Alken MyftiuMigena Pengili • Doreida Petro • Daniela Tola

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Directed by Nesad SeremetAndrea Bevanda • Jasna Draganic • Suad Hajric • Nirmela MusaEnisa Pulic • Inka Sehovic • Sunita Selak

Banja Luka Field Office Directed by Djordje StefanovicLjiljana Pandzic • Ozren Runic • Djordje Vojinovic

BULGARIA Directed by Margarita MateevaTanya Ivanova • Sylvia Kirova • Borislav Mourdzhev • Nelly PapazovaKristina Strukanska • Mihail Staynov • Katya Todorova

CROATIA Directed by Irena BrnadaDunja Fadljevic • Silva Fucic Konstantinovic • Suncica Kopjarevic JuricDalia Matijevic • Zeljka Medven • Meri Rogosic • Diana Jaksic (intern)

CZECH REPUBLIC Directed by Simona Kosikova SulcovaNadezda Frelichova • Tomas Kazmierski • Martin Smutny

ESTONIA Directed by Tuuli RassoHeidi Hansen • Anne Kivinukk • Meelis Magi

HUNGARY Directed by Eva CsobodPetur Farkas • Zsolt Kosznovszki • Laszlo Perneczky

LATVIA Directed by Erika LagzdinaKristina Dzelstina • Sarmite Lucane • Diana Meijere • Ilze Strausa

LITHUANIA Directed by Kestutis NavickasLaima Galkute • Aurelija Grauzinyte • Arunas GriciusMaryte Keziene • Edita Zvirblyte

FYR MACEDONIA Directed by Katarina StojkovskaJordanco Bajraktarov • Aleksandra Dimova • Stole GeorgievMarina Ordzanova • Slavjanka Pejcinovska-AndonovaKornelija Radovanovik • Daniela Simova

POLAND Directed by Malgorzata KoziarekAnna Dabrowska-Kurzajak • Barbara Maksimowska • Michal Miazga

ROMANIA Directed by Anca TofanBogdan Albu • Iulian Atanasiu • Magda Chitu • George Guran • Oana PenuVirgil Predescu • Rxana Schiopu • Dana Stratila

SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO Directed by Radoje LausevicSvetlana Aleksic • Marin Conc • Darko Cudanov • Dusan DjurdjicMarian Djordjevic • Snezana Dragojevic • Momcilo Dzunic • Sergej IvanovJelena Kis • Milos Kuzmanovic • Natasa Maksimovic • Jasmina MarinkovicUros Miloradovic • Alaksandra Mladenovic • Tamara Nikolic • Damir OravecJovan Pavlovic • Ana Popovic • Jovana Risovic • Mladjan SladakovicMaja Spasojevic • Srdjan Susic

Kosovo Field Office Directed by Shkipe DedaFejzullah Abdullahu • Naim Arifaj • Pranvera Firza • Vardon Hoxha • NenadRikalo • Aleksandar Savic • Mirlinda Shaipi • Florina Skeja • Blerim Vela

SLOVAKIA Directed by Vladimir HudekDaniel Buzinkay • Milan Chrenko • Zuzana Hudekova • Viera MihaldovaRichard Muller • Daniel Skobla

SLOVENIA Directed by Milena MaregaDarko Fercej • Mateja Sepec-Jersic • Julija Skarabot • Tatjana Studen

S E T T I N G T H E S T A G E [ B E H I N D T H E S C E N E S ]

JUNIOR FELLOWS

ARMENIA Naira Harutyunyan Women for Green Way for Generations

BELARUS Maryna Karavai Foundation for Realization of Ideas

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Krsto Lukic • YoungResearchers of Banja Luka • Maja Jelic Solidarity for the South

BULGARIA Dragomira Raeva For the Earth (Za Zemiata)

CROATIA Sandra Ilic Agroturist • Tea Kovacevic Societyfor Sustainable Development Design

CZECH REPUBLIC Petr Rychtecky EnvironmentalEducation Center Chaloupky

HUNGARY Eszter Kollar Protect the Future • KrisztinaSzabo Ecoservice Foundation • Levente Pencz Fauna Society

KAZAKHSTAN Seifullina Aigerim AreketGulzhaina Issabayeva Climate Change Coordination Centre

KOSOVO Shefqet Thaqi Cooperazione Internazionale

KYRGYZSTAN Nurzat Abdyrasulova Unison

FYR MACEDONIA Daniel Medaroski ERINA Jouranalists’Legal Environmental Centre • Biljana Mircevska Biosfera

ROMANIA Csaba Cseko Hungarian Students’ Union of BihorAdriana-Ani Gurau Eco-Alpex 024Simona-Iolanda Burete Carpathian Wildlife Foundation

RUSSIA Ekaterina Godunova Greenpeace • IaroslavaSennicova Youth Ecologocal Organisation of Baltic-Ladoga

SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO Andrej Medved GreensEcology Movement • Dejan Dojcinovic GRuPa PancevoCivil Reaction • Igor Jezdimirovic Novi Sad Red CrossOrganization

SLOVAKIA Lenka Milonova TATRY Civic AssociationPavla Misikova Living Planet Civic Association

SLOVENIA Barbara Kvac Fokus Association for Sustainable Development • Simon Resman Association for Protecting the Environment of Radovljica

TAJIKISTAN Faizullohodja Nasulloev Youth and Environment• Timur Norov Youth Group of Protection of Environment

TURKEY Yasemin Mia Cagatay TURMEPATuna Turkmen Greenpeace Mediterranean

TURKMENISTAN Makhym Orazmuhamedova CounterpartConsortium

UKRAINE Julia Myasyshcheva Bakhmat Environmental and Cultural Center

TEXT Zsolt Bauer • Steven Graning

DESIGN Sylvia Magyar

COVER PHOTOS Hadley Kincade

PHOTOS Antonela Dragobratovia (8) • Belogradchik Rocks Tourist Association (13) • Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (17) • Center for Environmental Information and Education (11) • Eco-Association Children of the Earth (14)Greener Bourgas Foundation (6,16) • Hadley Kincade (1,3,4,5,18,19,20,22,23,24,25,27,28,29,30,31,33) • Ivailo Nikolov (14)Laszlo Nimrod Szabo (9) • Milvus Group (12) • Open GardenFoundation (14) • Peter Lehoczky/European Commission (11)Reuters/Sergio Perez (7) • Robert Szabo Benke (2,21,33)Sylvia Magyar (21,26) • Stanislaw Ciok/European Commission (11)

IMAGING Laszlo Falvay

PRINTING Typonova Kft.

This and all REC publications are printed on recycled paper or paper produced without the use of chlorine or chlorine-based chemicals.

ALBANIARr. Durresit P. 11 Shk. 2 • Ap. 12TiranaTel/fax: (355-4) 239-444E-mail: rec@albania.rec.org

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINAKoste Hermana 11/271000 SarajevoTel/fax: (387-33) 221-998, 209-130E-mail: nseremet@rec.org.ba

Banja Luka Field OfficeSlavka Rodica 178000 Banja Luka • RSTel/fax: (387-51) 317-022E-mail: rec.bl@inecco.net

Mostar Project OfficeAnte Starcevica b.b.88000 MostarTel/fax: (387-36) 327-331E-mail: rec-neretva@tel.net.ba

BULGARIA Pozitano str. 3 • Floor 11000 Sofia • POB 1142Tel: (359-2) 980-3730Tel/fax: (359-2) 988-1670E-mail: rec@rec-bg.org

CROATIA Djordjiceva 8a Br. 10000 ZagrebTel: (385-1) 481-0774Tel/fax: (385-1) 481-0844E-mail: rec@rec-croatia.hr

Project Office MetkovicK. Zvonimira 520350 MetkovicTel/fax: (385-20) 681-714E-mail: rec-neretva@hi.hinet.hr

CZECH REPUBLIC Senovazna 211000 PragueTel/fax: (420-2) 2422-2843E-mail: rec@reccr.cz

ESTONIA Ravala str 810143 TallinnTel: (372-6) 605-018Tel/fax: (372-6) 461-423E-mail: info@recestonia.ee

HUNGARYAdy Endre ut 9-11 2000 SzentendreTel: (36-26) 504-075, 504-076Tel/fax: (36-26) 311-294E-mail: coh@rec.org

LATVIA Peldu 26/28, 31050 RigaTel/fax: (371-7) 228-055E-mail: reclat@parks.lv

LITHUANIA Svitrigailos g. 7/1603110 VilniusTel: (370-5) 231-0067Tel/fax: (370-5) 233-5451E-mail: rec@rec.lt

FYR MACEDONIAMit. Teodosij Gologanov 39-2-21000 SkopjeTel/fax: (389-2) 313-1904E-mail: katarina@rec.org.mk

POLAND ul. Zurawia 32/34 lok. 1800515 WarsawTel: (48-22) 629-3665, 628-7715Fax: (48-22) 629-9352E-mail: recpl@data.pl

ROMANIA Str Episcop Timus nr. 4 • Sector 1 BucharestTel: (40-21) 231-9764, 231-9765Fax: (40-21) 231-2017E-mail: rec@recromania.ro

SLOVAKIA Vysoka 1881106 BratislavaTel: (421-2) 5263-2942Fax: (421-2) 5296-4208E-mail: rec@changenet.sk

SLOVENIA Slovenska cesta 51000 LjubljanaTel/fax: (386-1) 425-7065Tel: (386-1) 425-6860E-mail: rec-slovenia@guest.arnes.si

SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO Primorska 3111000 BelgradeTel: (381-11) 329-2899 Fax: (381-11) 329-3020E-mail: office@recyu.org

Kosovo Field OfficeKodra e Diellit Rruga 3 • Lamela 26Pristina • Kosovo Tel/fax: (381-38) 552-123E-mail: sdeda@kos.rec.org

TURKEYCeyhun Atif Kansu Cad. No 124Balgat-AnkaraTel: (90-312) 284-9555 Fax: (90-312) 287-0110E-mail: info@rec.org.tr

COUNTRY OFFICES

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

HEAD OFFICE