Candidate countries join the EEA
Some 13 candidate countries have joined the European Environment Agency (EEA) in a development described by the European Commission as a 'milestone in the enlargement process'. It makes the EEA the first European body open to the candidate countries before their accession. Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Turkey could start joining the agency gradually during 2001, upon ratification of the official agreements. The European Commission believes the Candidate Countries' participation in the agency offers benefits all-round. 'The EEA will be able to better report on the state of the environment in the whole of Europe including the candidate countries,' says to the Commission, adding: '- candidate countries will benefit from EEA assistance in establishing and operating their own monitoring systems. The collection and assessment of unified data will allow for reliable comparisons of the state of the environment in different countries; - The EEA can also assist the candidate countries in implementing the EU environmental laws. Participation also gives the countries and opportunity to familiarise themselves with the Union policies and working methods. - Candidate countries can obtain financial assistance, notably from the Phare programme, or setting up data collection networks during their first three years of participation in the EEA.' Like other members of the EEA, the candidate countries will have to contribute financially to the agency as well as provide environmental data and establish the infrastructure to do so.