WHO WE ARE The REC’s experience

1. WHO WE ARE The REC’s experience COUNTRY OFFICE MACEDONIA Katarina Georgievska Country Office Macedonia Director 2014

2. Milestones in 1989… 2014… • 1989 • Budapest, July 12 – the historical speech of President Bush at the Marx University • 1990 • REC’s Foundation Charter is signed by Hungary, the EC, the US and the Netherlands • 1993 • Japan special Fund • 1994 • Opening Country Office in Macedonia • 1995 • International status in Hungary • 2000 • 10th Anniversary • 2001 • Italian Trust Fund • 2008 • Opening of the Zero-Emission Conference Building • 2010 • 20th Anniversary of the REC • 2011- • International Status signed by Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Hungary, Latvia, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine • 2014 • 20th Anniversary of REC Country Office in Macedonia Bilateral signing ceremony 20th Anniversary

3. Regional Environmental Center (REC) • An international organisation with a mission to assist different interest groups in addressing environmental issues and promote sustainable development in CEE and beyond • Legally based on a charter signed by 31 countries and the European Commission • Offices in 17 countries, approx. 160 staff members • 100% project-financed organisation • over 200 running projects • annual turnover 10-12 MEUR • Operations in: • EU Member States in CEE • EU enlargement countries, candidate and potential candidate countries • Eastern Partnership Countries • EU27 • beyond the REC Country Office network

4. Andrzej Kassenberg President, Institute for Sustainable Development, Poland Chairman of the Board of the REC Gunilla Eitrem Senior Advisor and Director, Greater Stockholm Area, Sweden Ryo Fujikura Professor, Hosei University, Japan Maria Lodovica Gullino Vice Rector, Universita degli Studi di Torino, Ital Melinda Kimble Senior Vice President, UN Foundation, US Timo Makela Director of International Affairs, DG Environment, European Commission Hasan Z. Sarikaya Undersecretary (retired), Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Turkey SinisaStankovic Deputy Minister, Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism, Montenegro Istvan Teplan SeniorAdvisor, Ministry of RuralDevelopment Hungary JariVilen Ambassador, Embassy of Finland, Warsaw Ex officio: DejanNovaković State secretary Ministry of Energy, Development and Environmental protection, Serbia President of the General Assembly of the REC Marta Szigeti Bonifert Executive Director, REC Board of Directors

5. Donors • Donations close to 190 MEUR in 1990-2012 • Recent donors • European Commission • The governments of Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States • other inter-governmental and private institutions • 10 biggest donors in 1990-2012:

6. Main directions for work & topic areas • Following “Rio+20” the REC has two main directions for work: • Governance for Sustainability • Green Economy • Key Topic Areas of the REC: • Climate Change and Clean Energy • Environmental Management • Water Management • Environmental Financing • Health and Environment • Law Development, Enforcement and Compliance • Local and Participatory Governance • Educational Tools • Sustainable Development Academy

7. International Organisations: European Environment Agency – cooperation with topic centers World Health Organization Asia Europe Foundation (ASEF) International Commission for the Protection of the Danube (ICPDR) Businesses: TOYOTA, Philips, GE, Coca-Cola Romania, British Gas, British Petroleum, Bosch, EMISOFT, AK Bank, TUSIAD Latest new partnerships: Global Fuel Economy Initiative (GFEI) EBRD Environmental Advisory Council European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) USAID (Low Emission Development LEDS) Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) FAO ILO Climate Reality Project Global Energy Prize ENEL Foundation DHI Lombardi Foundation (FLA) Partnerships • Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC)

8. Key examples: REC in the Environment and Security Initiative • Contributing to the reduction of environment and security risks, and strengthened cooperation between and within countries and regions of operation • CBC for improvement of Lepenec River quality

9. Key Examples: Themis Network against environmental crime • Cooperation initiative for managing natural resources and combating environmental crime, such as illegal logging, in South Eastern Europe • environmental law enforcement units of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia • increasing administrative capacities to tackle environmental crime and enhance regional cooperation in the context of approximation to EU environmental legislation • funded by the government of Finland and the Austrian Development Cooperation • REC serves as the Secretariat of the Network

10. Key examples: Climate Change Catalyzing market transformation for industrial energy efficiency in Macedonia • Policy Development • Supporting Agency for Energy in developing appropriate legal acts enabling its improved performance • Training Core of consultants for 50001 implementation • 30 national consultants and technical staff from partner industries will be trained on standard ISO 50001 and its implementation • Financing Energy Efficiency Investment in selected industries • Technical Assistance given to selected industries to develop bankable projects for financing UNITED NATIONS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION

11. Key examples: Education on Sustainable Development Green Pack & Green Pack Junior • a multi-media tool kit for curriculum in environmental education • for primary school teachers and their students • focus on environmental protection and sustainable development • Over 1.000 teachers  over 30.000 students  2 languages • Special adaptation for children with damaged eyesight National Educational Campaigns • 2014: Macedonia, Land of Flowers – Land of Roses

12. Key examples – Crossborder cooperation Project: “Cross-border water resource management” (IPA CBC Macedonia / Albania; project duration April 2012 – April 2014) Overall objective: • Improving environmental planning and management: Upgrade of the water supply system • Improving cross-border cooperation: Cross-border workshops and capacity building activities Achieved by implementing two parallel components… • Component 1. Upgrade of the water supply system • development of hydraulic computer model for the water distribution system, • pilot activities for detection of technical water losses in the water system, • reconstruction of the water distribution network and rehabilitation of the water intake structure • joint training for employees from both PCE from Debar and Peshkopea • Component 2. Cross-border workshops and capacity building activities • joint workshops for the stakeholders from both Municipalities to introduce the concept of integrated water resources management (IWRM); • study tour in the Municipality of Korca, Albania – exchange of “know-how”; • round tables for citizens in both municipalities targeting sustainable water usage

13. Welcome to the REC!