Danish - Lithuanian Environmental Co-operation 1991-2000
Chapter 3
The environmental challenges of Lithuania and the future perspectives for Co-Operation
The environmental challenges of Lithuania are multiple. Also the topics on the environmental agenda are very diverse and entail such different issues as a safe closing of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, abatement of polluted rivers and lakes, waste management, sustainable forestry, and public awareness rising. One of the most important objectives for Lithuania is the future membership of the EU.
At the start of the environmental cooperation between Lithuania and Denmark, there certainly was a lack of overview of the environmental problems encountered by Lithuania.
It soon became clear that the problems encountered in Lithuania did not differ significantly frorm those problems encountered in other countries of the Soviet sphere such as:
 | Non-existing or poorly functioning environmental infrastructure, water treatment, water supply, waste water supply, waste water treatment plants, solid waste management, hazardous waste management etc. |
| Poor energy efficiency |
| Polluting industries |
| Little public awareness and participation |
| Low administrative and institutional capacity. |
In addition, Lithuania also inherited the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, which has a design similar to that of Chernobyl.
These problems are, of course, not solved overnight and the environmental challenges of Lithuania are still large and multiple.
Progress has definitely been made, and since the start of co-operation, the framework in which the environmental problems are addressed has changed dramatically.
Focus on the EU membership
The first attempt to make a prioritised effort to address the environmental problems was made in the "National Environmental Strategy" for Lithuania which was adopted in 1996. Environmental sector strategies were established in the late nineties and recently, the environmental strategy-setting and policies have been focused on the Lithuanian EUmembership.
One of the most important objectives for Lithuania is the future membership of the EU. Even though, Lithuania in recent years has made progress in the field of environment protection and has achieved a fair level of alignment, there are still major differences across sectors.
Environmental issues have been negotiated between Lithuanian and the EU. In June 2001, agreement was reached between the EU and Lithuania regarding transition periods for implementation of environmental EUlegislation.
A recent study supported by DANCEE estimates that an investment in Lithuania of approximately DKK 11.92 billion (EUR 1.6 billion), is needed in Lithuania for the country to comply with environmental EU-directives.
As for the implementation of EUlegislation, the main investments costs for the environmental chapter will be associated with projects in the water and waste areas, but also the strengthening of the institutional setup will be a challenging task, not least when it comes to nature protection.
Developing the cooperation
Naturally, the political development of the environmental sector is also reflected in the Danish environmental assistance to Lithuania.
Hence, the first years were characterised by a number of investigation and review studies. Since 1993, the investment projects, especially waste water treatment plant projects, came to play an increasing role in the Danish/ Lithuanian project portfolio, and in recent years, EU-approximation issues have come to play a more and more prominent role in the selection of projects. Also nature protection and bio-diversity issues have been topics, that have had still-growing attention.
In the years to come, the approximation to the EU environmental policies and standards is expected to continue its impact on Lithuanian Environmental Priorities, and it is also anticipated that the EU-support in meeting the needs for Lithuanian compliance with EUstandards will increase. Especially the water sector and the waste sector will require major public investments before EU-standards can be met. Major institutional developments will also be required.
So far, the Danish assistance with regard to EUapproximation issues has focused primarily on the transposition of Lithuanian environmental legislation, whereas EU-approximation issues with regard to implementation/investment and control-enforcement have had less emphasis.
The Lithuanian efforts towards the EU accession will go hand in hand with the DANCEE country programme for Lithuania 2001-2003, which establishes the framework for Danish-Lithuanian environmental cooperation. In the programme, the EUapproximation runs all through the Lithuanian and the DANCEE activities, and supports the Lithuanian efforts to become a member of the EU.
The closure of the Ignalina nueclear Power Plant and the restructuring of the energy sector is one of the major challenges today.