Strategic Moves - Regional Environmental Center for Central and ...

The current Water Management Strategy was prepared in 1991 and adopted
in 1996, and is not in compliance with the EU water acquis. The future strategy for
the development of the water sector should define the reorganisation of the water
sector in order to achieve long-term sustainable water management. Due to the
then existing economic conditions, measures from the 2001–2005 mid-term plan
for the water sector have not been implemented, nor has the mid-term plan for
2006–2010 been adopted.
Progress can be noted with the adoption of the Law on Waste Management
(2009) that provides for the complete harmonisation of national legislation with
the EU acquis. The law regulates waste planning and management, as well as measures
and procedures for the collection, transportation, reuse, recycling, treatment
and disposal of all types of waste, including communal, medical and hazardous
waste, from the national level down to the local level. Laws on packaging and packaging
waste have also been adopted (EC SEC [2009] 1339). Twenty pieces of secondary
legislation are in the drafting or adoption stage. The National Waste
Management Strategy from 2003 is currently being revisited and the draft will be
submitted for adoption procedure in 2009. The new strategy will define possible
locations for regional waste management centres.
General observations
• The countries of SEE have made significant progress in drafting and adopting
new laws and strategies in accordance with the EU environmental acquis, but
despite the progress achieved, considerable efforts are needed to meet the requirements
of the acquis.
• The transposition and implementation of EU environmental legislation is
a precondition for unblocking environmental investments in SEE countries.
• The development of an environmental investment strategy and of key policy
objectives and priorities is essential to ensure effective financing for environmental
infrastructure.
Enforcement of environmental legislation
in the water and waste sectors
The enforcement of EU water and waste legislation is just as important for unblocking
environmental infrastructure investments as the adoption of targeted,
quality laws and regulations. Only strong pressure on national institutions and local
governments to comply with commitments in the water and waste sectors can generate
sufficient political will for reform. This pressure would come from strong and
independent national and local enforcement institutions — that is, environmental
inspectorates. Economic operators and citizens should also feel the consequences
of illegal actions. There is a close link between the enforcement of legislation and
its effect on the credibility and financial security of environmental infrastructure
C H A P T E R 5
N AT I O N A L S T R AT E G I C A N D I N S T I T U T I O N A L F R A M E W O R K
S T R AT E G I C M O V E S 107