HC Deb 07 May 1993 vol 224 cc272-3W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on matters discussed and decisions taken at the second pan-European conference of Environment Ministers in Lucerne on 28 to 30 April; and what additional financial pledges were made by the United Kingdom to support decisions taken.

Mr. Maclean

The main subject discussed at the "Environment for Europe" conference in Lucerne from 28 to 30 April was the environmental action programme for central and eastern Europe. This sets out a broad strategy for tackling the most immediate environmental problems in central and eastern Europe, based on a "three-legged" approach of policy reform, institutional strengthening and investments. The conference firmly supported the implementation of this strategy. It also endorsed the establishment of mechanisms to implement the EAP, including a framework to facilitate the project preparation and investment process, and a task force to co-ordinate efforts to support institutional and policy change.

There was a progress report on the state of the environment in Europe report, which will serve as the basis of the further development of an environmental programme for Europe. The possible use of economic instruments was discussed, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development was asked to explore further ways to facilitate a wider use of such instruments.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State gave the keynote address in the debate on monitoring, compliance and enforcement in environmental policy. Decisions in this area called for the extension of the OECD environmental performance reviews to Poland, Bulgaria and Belarus, for the work on integrated pollution prevention and control to be taken forward and for the elaboration of proposals to encourage public participation in environmental decision making.

It was agreed that the next conference should take place at the invitation of the Government of Bulgaria in 1995. The follow-up work to the Lucerne conference and the preparation of the next conference will be co-ordinated within the UNECE framework.

This was not a pledging conference.