The Task Force for the Implementation of the Environmental Action Programme for Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) countries

In 1993, at the "Environment for Europe" Ministerial Conference in Lucerne Environment Ministers adopted the Environmental Action Programme for Central and Eastern Europe as a broad strategy to guide еnvironmental reform in those countries. Ministers also established a Task Force to facilitate the implementation of the Environmental Action Programme (EAP Task Force), and in particular to assist Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the countries of Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) to:

• integrate environmental considerations into the processe of economic and political reform;
• upgrade institutional and human capacities for environmental management;
• broaden political support for environmental improvement, and
• mobilise and make cost-effective use of financial resources.

OECD was asked to provide the secretariat for the EAP Task Force. At the same time, Ministers established the Project Preparation Committee, to accelerate environmental investments, and with a secretariat located at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Since 1993, the work of the EAP Task Force has been reviewed in a series of “Environment for Europe” Ministerial Conferences, and re-oriented in light of the changing geo-political landscape.

In June 1998 Environment Ministers met in Aarhus (Denmark) and reviewed the results of the EAP Task Force work. Taking account of developments in the region, notably EU enlargement, Ministers agreed that "the main focus of future EAP work should shift towards the CEE countries and the EECCA that are not part of the pre-accession process".

At the 5th “Environment for Europe” Conference, held in Kiev, 21-23 May 2003, Ministers agreed to terminate the EAP Task Force’s work in Central and Eastern Europe. They also adopted the Environment Partnership Strategy for EECCA countries and invited EAP Task Force to play the lead role to support and facilitate the achievement of the objectives of the EECCA Environment Strategy. In addition to supporting EECCA countries to achieve the objectives of the EECCA Environment Strategy, the EAP Task Force focused on three objectives: for water supply and sanitation; environmental finance; and environmental policy reform.

In October 2007 Environment Ministers met in Belgrade (Serbia).  They invited “the OECD to continue providing the EAP Task Force secretariat, but some of these functions should be gradually transferred to the Regional Environmental Centres (RECs) in EECCA, as their capacities allow, starting with sub-regional, country and project-oriented tasks.” As a concrete step in implementing this decision, Task Force endorsed a consolidated Programme of Work and Budget for 2008, jointly prepared by OECD Secretariat and EECCA RECs. The new programme of work of the EAP Task Force will focus on two priority areas: water supply and sanitation; and environmental policy reform.

The EAP Task Force brings together policy-makers from CEE, EECCA and donor countries, as well as international institutions active in the region. Parliamentarians and social partners - the enterprise sector, trade unions, environmental citizens' organisations (ECO's) and RECs - are also directly engaged in Task Force activities. Since February 2008, the EAP Task Force is co-chaired by Norway and Moldova. The EAP Task Force meets once a year. Between the annual meetings a Bureau of the EAP Task Force provides guidance for the Secretariat on the implementation of the work programme. Specifically, the EAP Task Force:

• Promotes analysis and exchange of experience among countries on key environmental policy and institutional reforms;
• Develops guidelines and best practices for environmental policy and institutional reforms based on experience in the EECCA, CEECs and OECD countries;
• Identifies ways in which environmental policy reform can be integrated into the broader process of economic and political reform;
• Works with donors and International Financial Institutions, including the PPC, to strengthen support for capacity building to implement demonstration projects which can serve as models for environmental reform and to remove obstacles to investments in the environmental sector;
• Co-operates with the governmental and non-governmental sectors and the EECCA RECs, to build public and political support for environmental protection.

There are two networks that are established within the main areas of work of the Task Force: (1) the Group of Senior Officials (GSO) for Water Sector Reform in EECCA; and (2) the Regulatory Environmental Programme Implementation Network (REPIN). These networks  provide mechanisms for sharing information, disseminating good practices and agreeing on policy recommendations – among EECCA countries and between EECCA and donor country representatives. The work through networks also provides an important means of enhancing the knowledge and skills of participants from EECCA countries. It also helps to promote ownership of the work by EECCA countries and to ensure that it responds to their needs.

The secretariat of the EAP Task Force is provided by OECD's  Environment Directorate, Environment and Globalisation Division. This location enables the EAP Task Force secretariat to draw upon the policy analysis and recommendations prepared within OECD directorates and committees dealing not only with Environment but also Fiscal, Financial and Enterprise Affairs, Public Management, Economics, Regulatory Reform and others.  The EAP Task Force provides much needed support to improve environmental policies and institutions in EECCA.  

For information about most recent events in the EAP Task Force framework check our What's New page.