Meeting of IMPEL General Assembly in Prague
On 3–5 June 2009, the Czech Ministry of the Environment and the Czech Environmental Inspectorate organise, in the framework of the Czech EU Presidency, a meeting of the General Assembly of the Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL).
The meeting of the General Assembly will be opened on 3 June by Ladislav Miko, Czech Minister of the Environment, and Eva Tylová, Director of the Czech Environmental Inspectorate. “IMPEL plays an important role in strengthening the protection of the environment and helps ensure better enforcement of EU legislation”, said Minister Miko.
The third meeting of the General Assembly will adopt the final report from a project on the resolution of environmental conflicts through dialogue. The project is aimed to improve communication between the public and institutions that authorise and control the activity of industrial facilities and focus on the application of environmental law.
The agenda further includes the presentation of a report from a project which centred on cross-border shipments of electronic waste. The objective of this project was to identify the weak links in the chain of electronic waste collection in Europe, which are the cause of leaks and sales to developing countries; to pinpoint possible strategies for preventing and stopping this activity and to verify tools which control bodies can use.
The meeting will also include workshops where delegates will discuss the programme and challenges for the IMPEL network in the future.
The delegates will also approve a new communication strategy that will spotlight the IMPEL network at European level. A new English-language website will also be set up. “We need to be more active in spreading information about the tangible results of IMPEL projects and encourage feedback and communication between European institutions and IMPEL member states”, said Eva Tylová, director of the Czech Environmental Inspectorate (ČIŽP). The target groups of this information exchange should above all include environmental organisations in IMPEL member states, the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of the EU, and also environmental organisations that are not members of the IMPEL network. “Our cooperation with European institutions should include regular contacts and meetings with the Commission, the Committee on the Environment of the European Parliament and the EU Presidency”, added Gerard Wolters, Chair of the Board of IMPEL.
IMPEL was set up in 1992 as an informal organisation where members can exchange various types of information, discuss complex issues and offer practical advice. In this way IMPEL members learn about best practices as regards inspections, monitoring and enforcement of EU legislation. IMPEL members include representatives of environmental agencies and inspectorates of the EU Member States, Norway and the candidate countries. In 2008 IMPEL became an international non-profit association.
For more information on IMPEL click here.
Contact:
- Jakub Kašpar, Spokesman of the Ministry of the Environment
- Tel.: +420 267 122 040, GSM: +420 724 175 927, E-mail: [email protected]
Last update: 16.8.2011 15:19
