Environment in the transition towards market economies: an overview of trends in Central and Eastern Europe and the New Independent States of the former Soviet Union

The 1993 Environmental Action Programme for Central and Eastern Europe pres ented a series of recommendations for integrating environmental objectives into the process of economic and democratic reform in Central and Eastern E uropean countries (CEEC) and the New Independent States of the former Sovie t Union (NIS). In this paper, on the basis of findings of a recent OECD stu dy, we look at progress across the region in light of these recommendations . In several CEEC, there has been a synergy among economic reforms, democra tic development, and environmental improvement. These countries have seen i mportant improvements in environmental conditions but now face a variety of challenges, many tied to the process of accession to the EU and the need t o deepen integration between environment and sectoral policies, such as tho se for agriculture and transport. In other countries, and in particular man y NIS, pollution reductions have mainly resulted from declines in economic production. Many of these countries face ongoing crisis in terms of establi shing economic reform, stable societies, and environmental protection. In s everal areas of the former Soviet Union, environmental problems-in particul ar poor access to safe drinking water-pose serious threats to human health. Addressing these problems presents a difficult challenge both for national governments and for international cooperation agencies.