European Union-Central Asia: environmental aspect of cooperation under discussions
European and Central Asian experts and environmentalists have discussed environmental policy priorities at the regional and bilateral levels in Brussels at the 7th meeting of the EU-CA Working Group on Environment and Climate Change (WGECC), chaired by the Italian Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea.
The meeting, held on 6-7 February 2018, was attended by the representatives of the European Commission, environmental agencies and non-governmental organizations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as major financial institutions (EBRD, European investment Bank), regional and international organizations (UNECE, OSCE, GIZ, CAREC, ICSD IFAS).
Decision-making aimed at the sustainable solution of problems in the field of water supply, energy and waste management is a priority in the development programs of all CA countries. However, the implementation of specific measures requires the involvement of international financial institutions.
In this context, the participants discussed in the form of Q&A the possibilities of expanding the access of Central Asian countries to donor investment in the field of the environment and water resources, including through the Investment Facility of the EU for Central Asia.
For instance, Valts Villitis, the leading expert of the program the project "EU-Central Asia Enhanced Regional Cooperation on Environment, Climate Change and Water" (WECOOP2), presented the final draft of the Investor Guide and the Knowledge Centre Web Platform for CA.
These tools will provide Central Asian countries with the necessary guidelines in the field of developing high quality project proposals for bank financing of projects in the field of water and energy efficiency.
During one of the sessions, the European experts briefed the Central Asian colleagues on the EU experience in the transition to a green economy and the future prospects of this work.
In turn, the delegates of the five CA countries outlined the current tasks of eco-governance, recycling, waste management, climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The parties also agreed on the agenda for the next meeting of the Working group to be hosted by Tashkent in June 2018.
The Platform for Environment and Water Cooperation was established at the EU-CA High Level Conference in Rome in 2009. The EU-CA WGECC assists in identification of EU-CA regional cooperation priorities in environment and climate change.
