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| PRESS RELEASE 15 Years of Serving the Region The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe |
| (June 28, 2005, Szentendre, Hungary - Press R. No.03E-2005)
The REC - initiated by the United States, with active participation of the European Commission and Hungary - is headquartered in historic Szentendre, just outside Budapest. In the past 15 years, 26 additional countries have signed on to the REC Charter and declared their intention to support the REC`s fundamental goals. Approximately 200 professionals from 30 countries comprise the staff of this truly international organisation, and close to half of them work out of the Szentendre headquarters. The REC`s task is to take part in assessing and monitoring environmental problems and needs, and to provide help in solving them by promoting cooperation among non-governmental organisations, private institutions, governments, businesses and other environmental stakeholders, and by promoting the free exchange of information and public participation in environmental decision making. In addition to its own environmental programmes, the REC also initiates and/or participates in numerous international partnerships. A large number of important international environmental agreements - such as the Aarhus Convention - were prepared with the REC`s active contribution. The organisation also facilitates global environmental issues, such as the climate change programme. The office network operating in conjunction with the Szentendre Headquarter makes it possible for REC to be an effective force in solving local problems with local solutions - ones that are tailored to the diverse characteristics of the social and political environment of the various countries. In addition to the central tasks of REC the office network is now also involved in important local and regional project developments and implementations in various specialty areas. REC Country Office Hungary (as well as the other offices)
was initially most active in the development of environmental democracy
and support to civil organisations. As a part of this process, NGO`s have
been supplied with more than EUR 500,000 in supporting funds through participation
in REC programmes since 1990. Starting in the mid-1990s - meanwhile adapting
to Hungarian conditions and obligations - the REC has been providing effective
support to the government, local governments, companies, teachers and
civil associations. As a result of its involvement, the REC has been actively
making its mark on the state of environmental education, planning for
sustainable development, programmes dealing with issues of environment
and health, watershed protection of the Duna, Tisza and Hernád
rivers, and the Visegrád Process. For more information, please
contact: |
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Declaration
of the Signatories Letter
from President Bush Letter
from Prime Minister Gyurcsany
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The
Regional Environmental Center celebrates its 15-year anniversary on June
28 in Szentendre, Hungary. The international organisation, founded in
1990, now operates offices in 16 countries across Central and Eastern
Europe. Each office is charged with providing comprehensive solutions
for environmental challenges and setting countries on a course of sustainable
development.