Cooperation with the European Environmental Agency - the Way Forward

Svetlana Gjorgjeva, Macedonian NFP/EEALisbon, November 2009

STATUS OF COOPERATION

Initiated in 1997• NFP-Ministry of Environment and

Physical Planning• Established cooperation with ETCs

Air and Climate Change, Water, Biological diversity, Resource and Waste Management, Land Use and Spatial Information, ITTAG

• Participation in regular EEA meetings, workshops and events (MB-Top Executives; NFP/EIONET; topic annual workshops)

ACTIVITIES WITH EEA

• State of Environment and outlook Report

• Contributed data to Kiev Third Assessment Report and Belgrade Fourth Assessment

• Development of Indicator Based reporting

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How have we arrived here?

• Phare and Cards Programs:– Development EIONET network of

organizations and participation of the NRC– Building up a regular reporting – Emerald network – Natura 2000– CORINE Land Cover 2000 and 2006– CORINE Air Methodology– Development of national Core Set of

indicators

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How have we arrived here?

• Phare and Cards Programs:– Legal framework– Institutional capacity building– Strategies for:

• Monitoring• Data management• Environmental communication• Public awareness• Waste management• Biodiversity

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Twinning Projectspositive experience

CARDS – 2005 - Twinning project “Air quality

improvement”

•Approximation of the national legislation on air quality•Improvement of the capacity to carry out regular emission inventory work•Establishment of preliminary air quality assessment•Improvement of the ambient air monitoring system•Introducing the dispersion modelling as a new method for air quality assessment

Technical supportSupply for Air Quality Monitoring Stations, Calibration Laboratory, Chemical Laboratory and Mobile Emission Laboratory

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IPA – 2008 - Twining project Strengthening the central and

local level capacities for environmental management in

the area of air quality

• Harmonization of the secondary legislation for air quality and emissions• Preparation of Action plan to improve administrative capacities for air quality• Improvement of the forecasting capabilities and data management• Preparation and approval of regional-scale dispersion model• Establishment of efficient National environmental information system for air quality

Technical supportSupply of meteorological and air quality stations, software for air quality data management

Shortcomings• Insufficiently adequate databases to fulfil

wider needs and requirements.

• Insufficiently compatible information system – lack of proper criteria and standards for the design of the information systems and insufficiently reliable data management methods with lack of coordination

• Absence of proper monitoring networks in specific areas (ground water, soil, noise, waste)

• Weak points in reporting cycle – need for agreed format and standard for submitting environmental data to the NEIS from the data collectors

What should we do?

•Improved operation of national network and strengthened NFP position within the country

•Development of monitoring programs and networks

•Further development of National Core set of Indicators and improved reporting performance

•Full involvement and delivery of required data and information for the relevant EEA reports

How IPA can help us?

• Further development of monitoring networks (especially in ground water and soil)

• Further work on legal and technical standards and capacity building

• Development and implementation of a common architecture and tools for reporting

• Development of web applicative solutions that will integrate the central database with digital vector GIS data

What we expect from EEA?

• To include the Republic of Macedonia, together with other West Balkan Countries in all its reports

• To provide technical assistance trough guideline and response to our specific needs to support our regular participation in its work

• To organize targeted country visits and workshops preferably managed by ETCs

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Thank you

Hand work from Macedonia