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

The countries of South Eastern Europe (SEE) face a number of environmental
problems, mainly in the area of water pollution due to the uncontrolled discharge of
untreated communal and industrial wastewaters into rivers, lakes and seas, and uncontrolled
waste disposal that often poses a threat to drinking water sources. Investing
in environmental infrastructure is an important way to address the problem of
pollution from point sources in order to improve environmental conditions in SEE.
During the process of accession to the European Union (EU), extensive work will
need to be done to adapt legal, institutional and financial systems to the requirements
of the environmental acquis. Environmental infrastructure is an important area that
needs improvement and significant capital investments. The institutions associated
with environmental investments also require reorganisation and strengthening.
The aim of the present publication is to provide an overview of developments
in environmental infrastructure investments in the water and waste sectors in the
SEE region in relation to the major investment-heavy directives. The book addresses
economic, financial and legal issues but also covers other important aspects
of environmental investments such as the enforcement of key EU directives, institutional
capacity and international assistance.
The publication draws on the experiences gathered through the Priority Environmental
Investment Programme for South Eastern Europe (PEIP), implemented
between 2001 and 2009, and on the accumulated knowledge and lessons learned
in the framework of this programme. Work carried out within the PEIP is thus the
main source of information, in addition to three regional surveys (one in 2008 and
two in 2009) on water and waste. Desk research was also carried out to complement
this accumulated information.
The 2005 REC publication Targeting the Environmental Investment Challenge
in South Eastern Europe covered the period 2001 to 2005. The present publication,
which focuses mainly on developments since 2005, is the third in a series of
publications released by the REC in 2009. The two preceding publications are
Strategies for Reform: A Manual for Water Utilities in SEE and Speeding up Investments
in the Waste Sector: A Manual for Waste Utilities in SEE.
Since 2005, significant and dynamic changes have taken place in SEE, including
progress in the legislative and strategic framework, utility reforms, and efforts towards
EU accession. The authors have attempted to map and analyse such changes in areas
that have a bearing on environmental financing. The publication also highlights positive
results in the region, while not disregarding areas that need improvement.
Executive summary
S T R AT E G I C M O V E S 19