Tens of millions for European environmental projects in NIS

PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Commission is set to identify environmental rehabilitation projects worth tens of millions of Euros in newly independent states (NIS) with poor environmental records.



The program, set to take place from 2010-2013, will tackle long-standing environmental problems in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, the Russian Federation and Ukraine.



The EU has commissioned multi-disciplinary consultancy Parsons Brinckerhoff to review past program of environmental activity, under its Tacis Regional Action Program from 2000-2006, and recommend a further tranche of work under the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) from 2010-2013. Tacis had a budget of €50m from 2000-2006.



Parsons Brinckerhoff started work on 20 January this year and is due to report its findings in six months.



Project manager Cristina Pellegrino said: "All NIS have suffered from a centralized economy, heavy industrialization, concentration of population in urban areas and the lack of attention to environmental problems, such as water and air pollution, soil contamination and unsafe waste disposal.



"There is a lack of safe and clean water and high levels of emissions to air as well as hazardous waste. Together, they represent more than 10% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions."



EU cooperation objectives are to build closer relationships with partner states of neighboring countries in Eastern Europe, in which respect for democratic principles and human rights and the transition towards market economy are fostered and supported. The Tacis Regional Action Program's (1999-2006) environmental wing aimed to encourage sustainable use of natural resources and increased resource efficiency, in particular in regards to water, forests and energy, improving environments and health conditions, while fostering economic development and contributing to stability and security. The TACIS Program has, as from 2007, been superseded by the ENPI - the European Neighborhood Partnership Instrument which offers deeper political and economic integration to its closest neighbors, yourrenewablenews.com reports.