Since 1991, Denmark has granted DKK 3.3 billion for environmental assistance to Eastern and Central Europe. This figure represents the biggest effort made by any country in the region – as measured in both absolute figures and in proportion to inhabitants. DKK 2.6 billion were channelled through the environmental assistance programme Dancee under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment and Energy. The remaining aid was distributed by the various sectors in connection with the sector-integrated environment activities which this folder portrays.

Baltic Agenda 21

The overall objective of sector-integrated environment activities originates from the action plan Baltic Agenda 21. In 1998, this plan was adopted by the countries around the Baltic Sea, with a view to promoting environmental sustainable development based on market-economy principles in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and the Russian regions St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad. This regional action plan for the Baltic region is rooted in the global Agenda 21 adopted by UN member states in 1992 on a par with the Rio Declaration.

Extensive partnership

The activities are scheduled as partner-ships between a range of Danish ministries (refer to table below) and their colleagues in recipient countries – assisted by environmental authorities. In itself, this type of cooperation may contribute to local competence development through transfer of knowledge from Danish ministries holding experience from integration of environmental considerations in their sectors. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency coordinates all activities and approves environmental components jointly with the Advisory Committee to the Danish Environmental Support Fund. The committee consists of representatives of business associations, professional associations, environment and nature associations as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Environment and Energy. The formal framework of the projects is general agreements between the ministers. In the context of such agreements, cooperation programmes are set up with precise indications of strategic objectives and prioritising of new and ongoing projects.

[Front Page] [Contents] [Previous] [Next] [Top]

Environmental assistance across ministerial borders