Doc. 8715
13 April 2000

Need for a central and east European environmental charter

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr. Eörsi and others

The Assembly:

      Bearing in mind that more and more often incidents of environmental damage have serious impact not only on the country of origin, but also on the neighbouring countries and on the whole region;

      Aware that the ecosystems of the central and east European countries require continuous, checkable and planned monitoring of the environmental conditions of industrial and agricultural production;

      Noting, that the structural changes of these economies and the tendency to globalisation have led to the export of production and manufacturing processes that are not permitted in the home countries to central and eastern Europe, where they are more profitable due to the lower level of environment standards;

      Aware that protection of the environment is a crucial issue for applicant countries to join the European Union;

      Recalling the need for preventive environmental policies at intergovernmental level;

      Acknowledging that protection of the environment is an essential aspect of sustainable development as well as respect for human dignity;

      Recognising that existing international treaties and international organisations are not sufficient to combat these environmental risks,

      Recommends that the Committee of Ministers,

i.       organise a scientific forum to review past and potential environmental damage in the region, in order to elaborate a proposal to avoid or to contain environmental damage;

ii.       initiate a central and east European environmental charter or treaty in order to

       agree to a joint and comprehensive (ground-water-air) monitoring system which would enable the member countries to receive prompt and reliable information on the environment;

       establish a legal framework for interstate liabilities for environmental damage; and

       establish an Environment Guarantee Fund, that would serve as a guarantee for the implementation of the principle that the "polluter pays".

Signed1 :

Eörsi, Hungary, LDR

Adamczyk, Poland, EPP/CD

Agius, Malta, EPP/CD

Anusz, Poland, EPP/CD

Baramidze, Georgia, LDR

Bársony, Hungary, SOC

Bonet Casas, Andorra, LDR

Braun, Hungary, LDR

Bruce, United Kingdom, LDR

Buwitt, Germany, EPP/CD

Chiliman, Romania, LDR

Clerfayt, Belgium, LDR

Dees, Netherlands, LDR

Duka-Zólyomi, Slovakia, EPP/CD

Fernández-Aguilar, Spain, EPP/CD

Frey, Switzerland, LDR

Frunda, Romania, EPP/CD

Fyodorov, Russia, LDR

Gatterer, Austria, EPP/CD

Gligoroski, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, EPP/CD

Guardans, Spain, LDR

Hancock, United Kingdom, LDR

Haraldsson, Iceland, LDR

Hegyi, Hungary, SOC

Herrera, Spain, EPP/CD

Irmer, Germany, LDR

Isohookana-Asunmaa, Finland, LDR

Ivanenko, Russia, NR

Ivanov, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

Jäätteenmäki, Finland, LDR

Jakic, Slovenia, LDR

Kelemen, Hungary, EPP/CD

Kitov, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

Korkeaoja, Finland, LDR

Kresák, Slovakia, LDR

Kroupa, Czech Republic, EPP/CD

Kurucsai, Hungary, EPP/CD

Liiv, Estonia, LDR

Loutfi, Bulgaria, LDR

Melo, Albania, LDR

Minarolli, Albania, EPP/CD

Nadezhdin, Russia, LDR

Nagy, Hungary, LDR

Patarkalishvili, Georgia, LDR

Pozza Tasca, Italy, LDR

Radic, Croatia, EPP/CD

Ringstad, Norway, LDR

Rise, Norway, EPP/CD

Shishlov, Russia, LDR

Spindelegger, Austria, EPP/CD

Staehelin, Switzerland, EPP/CD

Surjan, Hungary, EPP/CD

Švec, Slovakia, LDR

Svoboda, Czech Republic, EPP/CD

Tabajdi, Hungary, SOC

Tahir, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

Taylor, United Kingdom, EPP/CD

Terpstra, Netherlands, LDR

Toshev, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

Vella, Malta, EPP/CD

Wielowieyski, Poland, EPP/CD

Zapfl-Helbling, Switzerland, EPP/CD

_______________

SOC: Socialist Group

EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

EDG: European Democratic Group

LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

NR: not registered in a group