The Fifth Ministerial Conference held 21-23 Kyiv, Ukraine
was the latest in the course of the Environment for Europe
process. Delegations from 53 countries of Europe, the Caucasus
and Central Asia, Canada and the United States of America,
representatives of numerous international and non-governmental
organisations participated. Parallel to the official agenda
of the Ministerial Conference, the various side events were
organised and attended by some 300 NGO representatives, governmental
delegates and various intergovernmental organisations.
Among the outcomes of the Conference three legally binding
protocols: the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer
Registers, the Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment
and the Protocol on Civil Liability and Compensation for Damage
Caused by the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents
on Transboundary Waters were signed by several governments.
An ambitious nature conservation commitment has been undertaken
in the Kyiv
Resolution on Biodiversity to halt the loss of biodiversity
at all levels by 2010. Besides the Resolution determines additional
tangible targets for the first decade of the century in various
fields from ecological networks through forestry and agriculture
to monitoring and public participation.
Besides the Ministers approved the Environmental Strategy
for Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA), which
evolves as a partnership initiative of all UN/ECE member states
for the better environment in twelve countries of the former
Soviet Union.
The Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable
Development of the Carpathians was also opened for signature
at the Conference. The Framework Convention translates the
general objective into substantive provisions covering among
others the fields of spatial planning, forestry, transport,
tourism, industry, awareness raising, monitoring. It was signed
by the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro,
Slovakia, Ukraine at the Conference, and later in November
by Poland.
The Ministers approved the Ministerial Declaration, which
reflects the progress made in the Environment for Europe process.
However, the negotiations have shown growing political division
in the UN/ECE region in the field of environmental commitments,
and the agreed ministerial text totally ignores some important
issues, such as nuclear energy and nuclear safety.
CEEweb's contribution for the Kyiv Conference
The 5th Ministerial Conference held 21-23 May 2003 in Kyiv,
Ukraine (Kyiv Meeting) was important
milestone in 'Environment for Europe'
process. CEEweb's contribution for the Kyiv Meeting was
the evaluation of progress made by CEE countries during the
EfE process, with special emphasis on assessments in the following
fields:
On the basis of the three sets of national reports CEEweb
prepared, NGO statements
were adopted with recommendations on biodiversity policy and
its implementation and integration into other sectors, as
well as on strengthening partnerships in society for the effective
implementation. Read more about the national
assessments >>
