Twinning — a challenge for both candidate countries and Member States

Abstract

After the formal invitation to the accession to the EU from the EU Commission the accession partnerships programs with all so called “candidate countries” were signed. The main aim of those accession partnerships is the concentrated support for the candidate countries at the preparation for their accession i.e. development and stabilization of democratic structures, creation of more effective and to the public opened authorities and administrative bodies on the national and regional level and last but not least the help with the adoption and implementation of the Aquis Communitaire. For the environmental sector is the following relevant:

• Reinforcement of administrative structures and authorities in Candidate Coun- tries on national and regional level (ministries, regional inspectorates etc.)

• Establishment of environmental institutes and agencies (monitoring institutes, laboratories, information exchange and networks, improvement of management)

• Adoption of the Aquis Communitaire (to comply with EU requirements in general)

• Implementation of EU Directives (to meet the requirements under each Directive)

• Development and enforcement of legal, administrative and technical regulations

• Development and enforcement of environmental policies, strategies and action plans for implementations etc.