Posted on February, 25 2004

For many, Central and Eastern Europe brings to mind poverty and ecological disasters. But in fact, this area is home to Europe's richest natural capital, including it’s last great wilderness areas and rich cultural landscapes. Indeed, the Yellowstones and Yosemites of Europe lie in the eastern, not the western, part of the continent.
 
In many respects, EU enlargement is a definite blessing — or boon — to Europe's environment. Not only will the EU's natural wealth increase, but the process of implementing EU legislation has already brought many environmental and associated health improvements to the accession and candidate countries.
 
But at the same time, the extension of damaging EU policies and practices is putting these countries’ natural wealth under threat. Intensive agriculture and infrastructure developments have already contributed to a steep decline in biodiversity in the current 15 EU member states. If the EU fails to undertake reforms, including fundamental changes to its agricultural, development, and transport policies, then enlargement could end up being a curse — or bane — to the accession countries' environment.
 
Enlargement also has implications for the global environment. The current EU is already a major market for illegally harvested timber and wildlife, with Central and Eastern Europe being significant points of origin or transit routes for smuggling operations. Following accession, these countries will be on the front line in stopping this illegal trade, which threatens the survival of forests as well as endangered plants and animals. But many accession countries lack the appropriate legislation, experience, and capacity to do so.
 
Solutions 
Europe is at a crossroads — the challenge is whether current, environmentally damaging practises will continue, or whether the EU will change to sustainable development, allowing people to meet their needs without destroying the environment in the process.
 
WWF believes that EU enlargement offers a unique opportunity to redress mistakes made under current EU policies and to implement strong environmental protection in both accession and existing member states. Cardinal opportunities for policy reform are available in advance of the next financial period of 2007–2013. In addition, there are good opportunities to promote effective implementation of very positive environmental legislation and policies such as the innovative Water Framework Directive and the Habitats and Birds Directives.
 
WWF is working with partners to promote and realize a sustainable future for the EU and to make EU enlargement a success: in environmental, human, social, and economic terms. WWF and its partner organizations have been working in the accession countries for over 15 years — since before the fall of the Iron Curtain — and in Brussels since 1989. The work includes everything from policy work on national and EU environmental legislation to on-the-ground projects to protect the environment, restore degraded areas, and develop environmentally friendly livelihoods.
 
What you will find in this advisory 
* Brief information on different issues related to EU enlargement and the environment, including:

• EU enlargement: a boon for the environment 
(i) Ecological treasures 
(ii) Environmental clean-up 
 
• EU enlargement: a bane for the environment?
(i) Agriculture
(ii) Transportation and infrastructure development
(iii) Illegal logging
(iv) Trade in wild animals and plants 
 
* Links to further online information 
 
*Description of resources available from WWF (images, footage)
 
* contact details for WWF experts