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

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C H A P T E R 7
F I N A N C I N G E N V I R O N M E N TA L I N F R A S T R U C T U R E I N V E S T M E N T S
S T R AT E G I C M O V E S
The priority aims of the task force are to coordinate investment activities by
identifying priority objectives common to the region; and to develop concrete approaches
for financing shortlisted priority projects. The task force is also responsible
for project screening and prioritisation processes. There are currently 24 projects
in the pipeline, at various stages of preparation identified through the Danube Investment
Support Facility (DISF), the Black Sea Project Broker, the PEIP and the
Environmental Project Preparation Facility (EPPF) (DABLAS, 2008).
From 2009, the European Commission supports a number of DABLAS priority
water investment projects through the DABLAS Phare Facility active in Croatia;
and through the DABLAS Balkan Facility, which is planned to operate for two
years in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
Montenegro and Serbia. The primary objectives of the facilities are to identify and
prepare new water projects and to further develop projects already identified; and
to increase local capacity in the project preparation process. The scope of the work
is to prepare a minimum of two pilot water sector projects in each of the beneficiary
countries, with one of the projects focusing on basin management. At least two
bankable investment projects should be fully prepared in one or two of the beneficiary
countries as well (DABLAS, 2008).
The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) was launched in February 2008,
as the successor to the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe 14 . The RCC is a regionally
led cooperation facility intended to sustain focused regional cooperation
in South East Europe. A main difference from the Stability Pact is the level of regional
ownership entrusted to the RCC. It is an attempt to encourage the SEE
countries gradually to take greater ownership of the process — politically and financially
— in order to ensure the sustainability of the process. The RCC also supports
European and Euro-Atlantic integration. The RCC partnership comprises 45
countries, organisations and IFIs.
The work of the RCC focuses on six priority areas: economic and social development;
energy and infrastructure; justice and home affairs; security cooperation; building
human capital; and parliamentary cooperation as an overarching theme. Close
relations are maintained with all relevant actors in these areas, such as governments, international
organisations, IFIs, civil society and the private sector.The RCC also provides
political guidance to initiatives in specific thematic areas of regional cooperation.
Environmental issues are mainly addressed in the energy and infrastructure priority
area, where one of the activities is the transfer of knowledge about sustainable energy
and sustainable transport. Links were established with the Regional Environmental
Reconstruction Programme for SEE (REReP) (RCC website).
The Regional Environmental Network for Accession (RENA) will replace
the REReP and will be launched by the EC at the end of 2009. The RENA will
strategically enhance the pre-accession element in regional cooperation among the
potential candidate countries, including Turkey. The objectives are to improve the
environmental situation in the region and to reestablish and facilitate environmental
dialogue among SEE countries. Activities will focus on strategic planning,
public participation, climate change, cross-border cooperation and environmental