Erkki Veddererkki@ctc.ee

Cooperation with Russia in Cooperation with Russia in the Context of the EU the Context of the EU

EnlargementEnlargement

Peipsi CTC is an international non-profit institute dealing with cross-border cooperation projects around Lake Peipsi that occupies most of the border area of Estonia and Russia.

There are Peipsi CTC PIUs in Tartu (Estonia), St. Petersburg and Pskov (Russia).

Lake Peipsi is shared by Estonia and Russia

In May 2004 Estonia is In May 2004 Estonia is expected to join the expected to join the European Union. European Union.

TThe EU accession he EU accession brings good brings good opportunities to theopportunities to the accession countries as accession countries as well as to well as to the Russian the Russian border regionsborder regions. . Multiple new projects Multiple new projects were started on were started on Estonian as well as Estonian as well as Russian sides to Russian sides to ensure staensure stablity in the future EU blity in the future EU border region. border region.

Peipsi CTC Peipsi CTC projectprojectss address jointly address jointly issues of economic development and issues of economic development and

environmental protection in the whole environmental protection in the whole region – region – these projects these projects hahaveve economic economic as well as environmental components. as well as environmental components.

Most of the projects prepare the Most of the projects prepare the situation in the region for the time of situation in the region for the time of

the EU accession.the EU accession.

ENVIRONMENTAL

MANAGEMENT IN THE LAKE

BASIN – supported by Danish EPAData for major

point pollution sources were collected. A GIS based database of point pollution sources was developed.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT –

DANCEE PROJECT

Two pilot projects on inventarisation of point sources pollution were conducted: the Amme River (Estonia) and the Gdovka. River (Russia). This is the basis for investments into municipal infrastructure.

The Amme River basin

The Gdovka River basin

The strategy was developed through a participatory process: a series of consultations and three workshops were held with local authorities and stakeholders on Estonian and Russian side of the Lake Peipsi basin.Recommendations formulated during these meetings were used to revise the wastewater treatment strategy.

PARTICIPATORY APPROACH TO THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

ECONOMIC COMPONENT OF THE PROJECT

Preparation of an electronic database of enterprises in the region and a report.

Booklet “Economic development perspectives for the Lake Peipsi Area” containing the analysis of the current economic situation and economic development patterns.

Estonia works to adapt its laws and the institutional setup to the requirements of the EU. As a part of this work the Estonian Water Act was revised to harmonize with the EU Water Framework Directive.

DEVELOPING A COMMON GROUND TO OVERCOME EXISTING DIFFERENCES IN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS,

NORMS, AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKS BETWEEN ESTONIA AND RUSSIA

Russia is not obliged to apply to the EU Water

legislation and its waters are

managed according to the

Russian Federation

Water Code.

CREATING KNOWLEDGE BASE IN THE BORDER AREA

Cooperation between various institutions – universities, scientific institutes, regional environmental bureaus.Transfer of knowledge through joint work of local and international experts - networking.

LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE – PREPARING IMPLEMENTATION

OF THE EU WATER POLICY

The cooperation projects laid a solid basis for the formulation of a comprehensive region-wide Lake Peipsi Basin Management Program.

The Global Environmental Facility (GEF) supportedthe follow up activities with 1 mln. USD.

MANTRA-East project under the EU 5th Framework programme is already under way (2001-2003).

The main challenge in future for the regional stability and sustainable

development in the region is a growing gap in social and economic development, different norms and standards, practices, and different

information between different sides of the border

More funding to the Russian side of the border should also be provided for the infrastructure and especially for information disseminationabout the European Union as well as for administrative and institutional capacity building, development of new skills.

Peipsi Center for Transboundary Cooperation

website: www.ctc.ee

Thank you for attention