2004 enlargement: accession strategies for environment with the candidate countries CEECs

PURPOSE: To examine the status of environmental financing in the candidate countries. CONTENT: In line with the Commission's "Accession Strategies for the Environment", candidate countries are required to develop investment priorities designed to facilitate the implementation of EU environmental legislation and policies. This paper, which has been drawn up following consultations with the candidate countries, outlines future investment priorities. Community technical assistance will focus on air pollution projects and directives involving private sector expenditure. In terms of Directive implementation, financing will focus on the so called investment heavy Directives. They are Water Supply Directives, Wastewater Directives, Waste Management, Air Pollution Control, and Industrial Pollution Control Directives. Equally, training for local authorities will receive financial support. Community instruments such as the newly revised PHARE programme, the new Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-Accession (ISPA) and the new pre-accession tool for agriculture and rural development (SAPARD) will be used.�