Aid for environmental measures in Eastern Europe
In view of the need for environmental protection measures in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia, the European Commission has approved additional support for environmental protection and education measures in these countries. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia have made considerable progress in economic reform in the past year. The Commission appreciates the increased awareness of the importance of environmental protectionhaving a severe impact on the environment through emission of toxic and dangerous substances and through acid rain. Agriculture and forestry are increasingly based on fertilizer and other chemicals. Automobile traffic is also on the increase. The Commission will, after the completion of sector strategies, be able to substantially increase its assistance for environmental protection in these countries. The Commission has decided to allocate ECU 2.5 million to Estonia to be used for projects relating to the introduction of environmental sustainability into forestry, fish and peat exploitation. Latvia will receive ECU 2.5 million for projects relating to the reduction of pollution entering the Baltic Sea from small rural municipalities. Slovenia will receive ECU 2 million for energy programmes covering funding for projects concerning, inter alia, preparatory studies related to energy saving strategies and cleaddition, ECU 3 million has been allocated to Estonia, ECU 3 million to Latvia and ECU 4 million to Lithuania for vocational training and educational reform programmes.