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

(as defined under UNSCR 1244) to USD 16,500 in Croatia. However, due to
the economic recession, economic activity in SEE has contracted sharply since
the second half of 2008 as a result of less foreign direct investment, a reduced
demand for exports, and less cross-border lending.
• In Albania, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia, the unemployment rate in 2008
ranged between 11 and 14 percent; in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
it was around 33 percent; and in Kosovo (as defined under UNSCR
1244) and Bosnia and Herzegovina it was approximately 40 percent. This has
a direct impact on the affordability of, and willingness to pay for, environmental
infrastructure services.
• The region’s mid-term macroeconomic outlook remains favourable but is dependent
on the maintenance of internal and regional stability, the continuation
of structural reforms, market liberalisation, the improvement of
infrastructure, and privatisation.
EU accession
EU accession as a driver for change
For SEE countries, EU accession is by far the biggest driving force and incentive
for development and for political and economic reforms, just as it once was
for CEE countries. The EU agenda is therefore a high priority in these countries.
The pre-accession period provides a unique window of opportunity for reforms,
and political will is generally strong. This opportunity is supported by the available
benefits of accession in the form of, for example, technical support, guidance, capacity
building and financial assistance. The pre-accession period is therefore a
chance to develop human capacity and to consolidate and strengthen institutions
to increase their ability to implement the EU environmental acquis.
The SEE EU accession challenge
The transposition and implementation of the environmental acquis is a huge
challenge for SEE countries. The challenges are to be found at almost all levels
of society — legislative, institutional, economic and political. The process requires
the harmonisation of national legislation and clear descriptions of the
roles and responsibilities of ministries and local authorities. Reforms must be
undertaken at all levels.
An underlying principle of the negotiations is that, by the time of accession,
countries must have fully transposed and implemented EU legislation. Transitional
measures can be granted for specific pieces of legislation, provided that the measures
are limited in time and scope. However, transitional periods are not usually
granted for horizontal legislation (EIA, access to information etc.) or for framework
legislation (such as waste or water framework legislation).
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E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T A N D T H E E U A C C E S S I O N P R O C E S S
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