Implementation of EU Environmental Laws by Candidate Countries

On 21 January, Margot Wallström, Environment Commissioner, Günther Verheugen, Enlargement Commissioner and Vasso Papandreou, Greek Environment Minister met environment ministers from the 13 candidate countries to discuss the implementation challenges of the 149 EU environmental laws.

According to the Commission, 80% of transposition of the environmental acquis has been completed. Candidate countries must now make efforts to implement this acquis within the deadlines agreed for the transitional periods.

The challenge is significant both financially and institutionally as the cost of compliance with the environmental acquis for the candidate countries is estimated at 80-110 billion Euros (Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive: over 25 billion Euros; Landfill Directive: 10-12 billion Euros.)

According to Margot Wallström, EU fundings will be increased but the countries will have to find much of the money themselves.

http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/03/81