Europe and CIS Countries

Summing Up

Compared with many other parts of the world, Europe is in a favourable position in the environmental field with:

• relatively up-to-date, comprehensive environmental data and information;

• many well-developed institutional and governmental structures as a basis for environmental policy setting and implementation;

• an enviable climate of pan-regional co- operation; and

• an impressive range of environmental policy options implemented and tested.

Despite all the efforts of recent decades and many individual national and international achievements, the environment of the region continues to deteriorate, especially in countries in transition (UNEP, 1996). The existing array of policies and actions is still unequal to the task, but there are already many lessons available that should be considered in further policy development within the region (See Box 3.15).