On November 29, 2011, the side event of WG3 “Assessment of environmental performance in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine according priorities of EaP Flagship initiative on Good Environmental Governance” took place.

NGO experts of EaP SCF WG3 “Environment, energy and climate change” presented preliminary conclusions and recommendations of assessment report “Towards Good Environmental Governance in EaP countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine”.

The following questions were assessed and will be presented by experts:

1) Strengthening cooperation with the European Union;2) Strengthening of administrative structures and procedures;
3) Development of strategies, plans and programmes in the environmental protection field;
4) Ensuring integration of environmental aspects into other policy sectors (promoting sustainable development);
5) Reinforcing of structures and procedures to carry out environmental impact assessment (EIA);
6) Improving access to information and public participation;
7) Cooperation on development of the Shared Environmental Information System.

The basis for methodology was taken from WWF-Henrich Boll Assessment of Action plans of the countries with EU done in 2008.

Moderator — Anna Golubovska-Onisimova, UNENGO MAMA-86. Speakers: Ganna Galyan, Association “For Sustainable Human Development”, Samir Isayev, Legal Think Tank NGO, Azerbaijan, Iryna Sukhiy, Asscosiation “Our home”, Belarus, Manana Kochladze, CEE Bankwatch-Caucasus, Georgia, Dimitru Drumea, GWP, Moldova, Natalia Andrusievich, RAC “Society and Environment”.

Assessment was conducted over the period since 2008 when the 6 countries’ Action Plans for Cooperation with the EU were coming to an end and preparation begun for negotiations on the Association Agreements with the EU (AAs) / negotiations on the AAs commenced.

Assessment on all the questions was conducted according to the methodology developed in 2009 by the WWF and HBF. The rate of achievement of some or other goal on environmental governance and sustainable development was determined as percentage.

Preliminary findings were discussed by the Working Group 3 “Environment, climate change and energy security” at the Civil Society Forum III in Poznan. After processing of comments, the experts prepared a final version of the assessment. Full texts of assessment tables, comments and explanations, conclusions and recommendations are included in the report which will be published in Russian and English in January, 2012.

General preliminary conclusions:

• In most countries, NGOs are not involved in discussion on AA/EUAA environmental priorities
• The latest public administration reform weakens administrative structures and procedures
• Strategic planning has considerably improved in the countries that have advanced in the AA negotiations most of all
• Environmental policy integration is generally not fixed by legislation
• Attempts of economic activity deregulation leads to liquidation of the EIA procedures
• The Aarhus Convention is not provided for mechanisms and procedures of participation of the public
• SEIS has great potential to play a decisive role in increasing of quality of information for making of meaningful governmental decisions

The Report will be finalized and published in January 2012.

Presentations of speakers are attached:

• Presentation of Janna Galyan
• Presentation of Samir Isayev
• Presentation of Irina Suhiy
• Presentation of Manana Kochladze
• Presentation of Dimitru Drumea
• Presentation of Nataliya Andrusevych