How Much Will It Cost to Join the Club? The Extra Costs of Approximating Lithuanian Environmental Laws with Those of the European Union

This paper presents estimates of costsassociated with approximating Lithuanianenvironmental protection legislation with thatof the European Union (EU). Lithuania is oneof twelve EU associate members in Central andEastern Europe that is currently preparing foraccession by approximating their legislationwith that of the EU. The costs of fifteen EUdirectives are considered and details are givenon four directives. Necessary investments maytotal Euro 1500 million by 2015 and the presentvalue of all annualized costs is expected to beabout Euro 2200 million. In 2015, annualized costsare estimated to be approximately Euro 500 million,but these costs are only part of the totalcosts of approximation. Non-environmentalcosts are not considered. Assuming a modestlyambitious average annual growth of GDP of 2.0%per year implies that approximation with thefifteen directives analyzed will cost roughly3.5% of GDP in 2015. This level of additional commitment to environmentalprotection is itself much higher than the 2.0%of GDP being spent on average by OECD countriesand suggests the possibility of a substantialeconomic burden on the Lithuanian economy. Public budgets and households are expected tocarry a substantial portion of this cost,because many directives are the responsibilityof national and local governments. Making theright choices that are expected to be part ofapproximation with the environmental acquis is likely to benefit from carefulcomparisons of costs and willingness to pay forthe environmental benefits of approximation. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 2003abatement, Central and Eastern Europe Compliance, costs, European Union,

Economic Instruments in the Lithuanian Energy Sector

Different economic instruments have been important and often used tools for governments to improve and control the environmental performance in a country. Many different instruments exist and the application of them is often complex. The present study has been initiated to study and improve the economic instruments for environmental control in Lithuania. In the project the existing economic instruments in Lithuania and Sweden have been studied as well as an overview of economic instruments in other European countries. Economic analyses have been made of the different systems and improved systems for Lithuania have been proposed. The project has been a co-operation between Sweden and Lithuania financed by The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket). The project has been performed by a team consisting of representatives from both Sweden and Lithuania.Different economic instruments have been important and often used tools for governments to improve and control the environmental performance in a country. Many different instruments exist and the application of them is often complex. The present study has been initiated to study and improve the economic instruments for environmental control in Lithuania. In the project the existing economic instruments in Lithuania and Sweden have been studied as well as an overview of economic instruments in other European countries. Economic analyses have been made of the different systems and improved systems for Lithuania have been proposed. The project has been a co-operation between Sweden and Lithuania financed by The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket). The project has been performed by a team consisting of representatives from both Sweden and Lithuania

Implementation of the European Union's Bathing Water Directive in Turkey

The European Union (EU) Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC) sets out standards for designated bathing waters which should be complied with by all Member States. Turkey, being a candidate country to the EU, requires heavy-cost investments in achieving approximation with the EU Environmental Acquis. This paper provides a description of the technical measures and investment and operational cost assessment related to the implementation of the Bathing Water Directive in Turkey. Bathing waters are defined as "all running or still freshwaters or parts thereof and seawater, in which bathing is explicitly authorized by the competent authorities, or bathing is not prohibited and is traditionally practiced by a large number of bathers". Since there is no complete registration of bathing waters in Turkey, this study has targeted all coastal agglomerations and designated these as in proximity to "highly-touristic" and "other" agglomerations including the agglomerations in the proximity of six lakes that are popularly used as bathing waters. For each of these agglomerations an assessment of the existing infrastructure has been made. in defining the infrastructural need, two scenarios have been developed. According to Scenario 1, only highly-touristic and touristic places are to receive investment. The suggested further treatment was "disinfection + sea outfall" and "sea-outfall", for highly-touristic and touristic agglomerations, respectively. In Scenario 2, other coastal agglomerations and all freshwater lakes were also included and disinfection has been proposed for these settlements. It appears that the total investment is at around 12.6 million Euros for Scenario 1 and increases to 21.8 million Euros for Scenario 2; whereas the annual operational and maintenance costs are about 0.5 and 0.8 million Euros for Scenarios 1 and 2, respectively

Implementation of the European Union's Nitrates Directive in Turkey

The European Union (EU)'s Nitrates Directive (ND) (91/676/EEC) aims to reduce water pollution caused or induced by nitrates from agricultural sources and to prevent further such pollution. Turkey being a candidate country to EU requires heavy cost investments in achieving approximation with EU Environmental Acquis. This study provides a description of the technical measures and investment cost assessment related to the implementation of the ND in Turkey. As Turkey has not yet designated nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs) according to requirements of the EU's ND, three scenarios were developed to estimate the capital investments needed for implementation of the ND. Based on the developed scenarios, the low-cost scenario designating eight provinces as NVZs and requiring a total investment of EUR 270 millions for the period 2007-2023 has been selected by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry within the EU Integrated Environmental Approximation Strategy for Turkey

Valuing the commons: An international study on the recreational benefits of the Baltic Sea

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