BALKAN ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORY COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT NETWORK (BERCEN) Second Plenary Meeting September 15-16, 2003 Lake Ohrid, FYR Macedonia Summary results from the BERCEN Study Tours This document is relevant to the agenda item 4 Description: This document includes the summary of two BERCEN study tours. Action Required: The BERCEN National and Deputy Network Coordinators are invited to discuss the document for conclusion. The activities related to the strengthening of the SEE Environmental Enforcement Agencies and their Inspectorates are funded by the EC PHARE/OBNOVA Programme, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Netherlands, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway and Ministry of Environmental Protection and Physical Planning of Croatia 1
Justification Funding The First BERCEN Plenary Meeting considered a study tour as an excellent way to learn and exchange experience among BERCEN and IMPEL member countries. Study tours have proven to be a useful way to improve capacity, exchange of experience, information sharing and cooperation among enforcement insitutions in IMPEL member countries. European Commission s assistance programme OBNOVA/PHARE Time & First study tour - March 17-22, 2003, Brandenburg, Germany Location Second study tour - May 12-17, 2003, Helsinki, Finland Objectives Bring together the environmental inspectors from the BERCEN and IMPEL countries for exchange of experience related to environmental enforcement and compliance Transfer lessons learned from more advanced enforcement agencies to BERCEN member countries Enable the BERCEN member countries to improve the capacity to a level which will allow them to actively participate and contribute in the IMPEL projects Improve bilateral cooperation among the enforcement agencies in the region and beyond Scope Both study tours focused on the organization of environmental protection, integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) and the minimum criteria for environmental inspections. They were interactive, consisting of presentations, discussions, and site visits. (See Annex 1 for detailed agenda of the first study tour, and Annex 2 for the detailed agenda of the second study tour.) Participants First study tour - six participants from Bosnia and Hezegovina, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro Second study tour - eigth participants from Albania, Bosnia and Hezegovina, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro Results Experience related to environmental enforcement and regulatory compliance exchanged Transfer of lessons learned Improved capacity, knowledge and skills related to IPPC and minimum criteria for environmental inspections Strengthened bilateral cooperation in the region and beyond Outcomes Reports written by all participants and published on the BERCEN web page Evaluation reports Evaluation First study tour - participants goals/expectations were met very much (67% of participants), overall reaction was excellent (67%), the length of the program for absorbing the quantity of information was just right (100%), the number of presentations and activities planned was just right (83%), the quality of the presentations was excellent and good (33% and 67%), the satisfaction with the quality of the site visits was excellent (83%), a study tour as a way to learn and exchange experiences was rated excellent and good (67% and 33%) (See Annex 3 for detailed evaluation results.) Second study tour - participants goals/expectations were met very much (100% of participants), overall reaction was excellent (100%), the length of the program for absorbing the quantity of information was just right (74%), the number of presentations and activities planned was just right (100%), the quality of the presentations was excellent (87%), the satisfaction with the quality of the site visits varied (excellent 25%, good 25%, satisfactory 37%, poor 13%), a study tour as a way to learn and exchange experiences was rated excellent (62%) (See Annex 4 for detailed evaluation results.) 2
Annex 1 1st BERCEN study tour for environmental inspectorates and agencies Brandenburg, Germany March 17-22, 2003 Agenda Date Time Programm Accomodation Sunday, 16 th of March Monday, 17 th of March Thuesday, 18 th of March 9.00h- 12.00h 9.00h- 16.00h 10.00h- 12.00h Arrival of the delegation Welcome by Mr. Cvitan, Interpreter MINISTRY FOR AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING OF BRANDENBURG Albert-Einstein-Str. 42-46 14473 Potsdam Tel. 0331-866-0 Discussion with: Dr. Knippenberg Deputy Director General Legislation and Enforcement in a federal state Mrs. Sander The application of the IPPC-directive and the IMPEL Network Mrs. Harm Environmental monitoring in the field of waste management Mrs. Schüler Inspection recommendations and its application NN Permit procedure and environmental impact analyse FEDERAL ENVIRONMENT AGENCY (UBA) Bismarkplatz 1 14193 Berlin Tel. 030-89030 Discussion with: NN Topic: Structure and Organisation of the UBA The cooperation with other environmental enforcement institutions The cooperation with the European Environment Agency Site visit at a disposal site -Planned- Albrecht- Achilles-Str. 57 10709 Berlin Tel.030-8911639 3
Wednesday, 19 th of March 14.00h- 16.30h FEDERAL MINISTRY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, NATURE CONSERVATION AND NUCLEAR SAFETY Alexanderplatz 6 Acommodation: Wittstock/Dosse 10176 Berlin Tel. 030-28550-0 17.15h 19.33h Discussion with Mr. Sangenstedt Head of Division Topics: Structure and Organisation of the Federal Ministry for the Environment Cooperation within the IMPEL Network Departure from Berlin Zoo Arrival at Wittstock/Dosse Thursday, 20 th of March 9.30h- 14.00h POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY NEURUPPIN Fehrbelliner Straße 4a, 16816 Neuruppin Telefon: (03391) 838 500 Site visit with Mr. Rexin at KRONOTEX GMBH & CO. KG Wittstocker Chaussee 1 D-16909 Heiligengrabe Tel. 033962-69-0 Friday, 21 st of March Saturday, 22 nd of March Sunday, 23 10.00h- 12.00h Inspection a wood processing plant Environmental impact assesment and regulations with regard to the autorisation of a production site GTZ HAUS BERLIN (German Society for Technical Cooperation) Reichpietschufer 20 10785 Berlin Follow-up with Mr.Graßmann Head of the POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY WÜNSDORF Day at your availability Departure of the Delegation 4
Annex 2 2 nd BERCEN study tour for environmental inspectorates and agencies Helsinki, Finland May 12-17, 2003 Monday 12.5.2003 Agenda 09,00-12,30 Finnish Environment Institute Welcoming by Department Director Esa Nikunen The role of the Finnish Environment Institute in environmental protection Department director, Esa Nikunen, Division Manager, Alec Estlander Director, Ismo Tiainen Presentation of the Finnish web based distance learning programme Presentation of the Finnish data base for inspection (VAHTI) Environmental Counsellor, Erkki Kantola/Northern Finland Permit Authority Environmental Counsellor, Markku Hietamäki/Ministry of the Environment Implementation of the Recommendation of the MCEI Head of Unit, Elise Sahivirta Project Manager, Marianne Lindström Researcher Jaana Pennanen 12,30-13,30 Lunch 14,00-16,00 Ministry of the Environment The organization of environmental protection Environmental policy Environmental legislation Director General Pekka Jalkanen Environmental Counsellor Hannele Nyroos Legal Adviser Mika Seppälä Experiences with implementation of the IPPC Directive Overview of the permitting system BAT in the permitting system Legal Adviser Mika Seppälä Head of Unit Elise Sahivirta/SYKE Project Manager Marianne Lindström/SYKE Civil Engineer, Hille Hyytiä/SYKE 5
Tuesday 13.5.2003 9,00 11,30 Uusimaa Regional Environment Centre IMPEL project on training and qualification of environmental inspectors Inspection planning and frequency of inspections Organisation of environmental inspections Operator self-monitoring Site visits and reporting and conclusions following site visits Department Director, Emelie Enckell-Sarkola Environmental Inspector, Jorma Lameranta Environmental Inspector, Ari Kangas 11,30-12,30 Lunch 13,00-14,00 The Confederation of Finnish Industry and Employers The role of the confederation in environmental protection Specialist Adviser Benny Hasenson Specialist Adviser Meeri Palosaari 15,00-16,00 Site visit to Cloetta Fazer Civil Engineer, Olle Löfgren Environmental Inspector Ari Kangas, Uusimaa REC Wednesday 14.5.2003 9,00-11,00 Municipal Environment Centre in Vantaa Organisation of environmental inspections in Vantaa Environment Director Stefan Skog Head Environmental Inspector Leena Maidell-Münster 11,00-12,00 Lunch 12,00-16,00 Site visit to Tikkurila Oy Environmental Director Pekka Kotilainen 18,00- Study Tour Dinner Thursday 15.5.2003 9,00-11,30 Finnish Nature Protection Federation The NGO's role in environmental impact assessment Project Coordinator Tapani Veistola (Natura 2000 expert) Birdlife Finland The NGO's role in environmental protection and planning Project Coordinator Leena Sjöblom 6
11,30-12,30 Lunch 13,00-17,00 Visit to Vitträsk by minibus Friday 16.5.2003 09,00-12,00 TUKES and Finnish Environment Institute Implementation of SEVESO Directive Senior Safety Engineer Leena Ahonen, TUKES Senior Advisor Eliisa Irpola, Finnish Environment Institute Finnish Environment Institute Access to information and public participation in the permit procedure Environmental Impact Assessment Environmental Management Schemes, especially EMAS Head of Unit, Elise Sahivirta Senior Researcher, Ulla Huimala Environmental Advisor, Titta Schultz Project Manager, Marianne Lindström 12,00-13,00 Lunch 13,00-14,00 Summing up the experiences from the Study Tour 7
Annex 3 1st BERCEN study tour for the environmental enforcement agencies and inspectorates Brandenburg, Germany March 17-22, 2003 Evaluation 8
Annex 4 2nd BERCEN study tour for the environmental enforcement agencies and inspectorates May 12-17, 2003 Helsinki, Finland Evaluation 9