Western Balkans Environment Programe

Study Tour “Financial Mechanisms for Remediation of Environmental Hot Spots”

In frame of the Western Balkan Environmental Programme for 2010 the RPMU organized a study tour to Poland from 24^th- 27^th May. The subject of the study tour was “Financial Mechanisms for remediation of environmental hot spots” related to relevant financial mechanisms that can be established and used for remediation of priority environmental hot spots. The study tour meetings and field visits were selected to be a ‘show case’ on how the application of best practice has changed a site from being an environmental problem to an asset, and provide transferable approaches, contacts and resources that each project will then be able to take back and apply. Participants at the study tour were representatives of the line Ministries, Eco-Funds and Environment Protection Agency from the participating countries/territories. The study tour provided an opportunity for the different participants to exchange information, experiences and ideas on the situation related to environmental funding in their countries/territories. On the first day an introductory meeting was held, during which the participants were invited to give presentations about the financial mechanisms for funding environmental projects in their respective countries/ territories. Following the agenda, in the early afternoon they have visited the Ministry of environment of Poland where they have learned more about the structure and competence of the environmental administration in Poland, and about European Economic Area financial mechanisms and the Norwegian financial mechanisms.In the late afternoon of the first day, the study tour participants were guests to the Polish National Fund and the Ecofund. Both institutions are independent and very important for funding of priority environmental projects in Poland, due to which the study tour participants could hear more about the administrative structure of both Institutions and what financial mechanisms are being utilized in order for them to gain revenue or get access to international funds, and how the funds collected are being used for funding of priority environmental projects within the country.

On the second day of the study tour a field trip to Sieradz was organized. The small town Sieradz is located 240 km away from Warsaw. The destination of the field trip was a site in the vicinity of the town where 40 tonnes of various pesticides are stored, and where remediation will commence shortly. Representatives of Sieradz municipality and the company which is contracted to conduct the clean up works welcomed the study tour participants and explained more in detail about the project, how it will be financed and about the specific physical works that will be conducted.