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International cooperation In recognition of the cross-border nature of serious environmental problems and of the good prospects the Community has of becoming the driving force in the further development of international environmental rules, the Community will seek to strengthen its role and take the lead, in particular as regards the international obligations which it has entered into under conventions and protocols. This implies, in particular, strengthening its approach to cooperation with the countries of central and eastern Europe and the Mediterranean and enhancing its role in relation to environmental issues as identified in Agenda 21 and in relation to bilateral and multilateral cooperation on sustainable development issues. The Community must ensure that it is a driving force in future work relating to the Biodiversity and Climate Conventions and that it also takes the lead in international efforts to establish a global, legally binding regulatory system for persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

1. In relation to central and eastern Europe, the priority objectives of the Community shall be:

(a) to develop further a comprehensive approach to environmental matters in the context of the strategy to prepare the associated countries of central and eastern Europe for accession; the Community undertakes, with the aid of technical and administrative cooperation and financial support, to help the applicant countries achieve the required level of environmental protection at the time of their accession; in this connection, higher priority is to be given to the drawing-up and implementation of environmental action plans for each of the countries with a view to their possible accession;

(b) to continue cooperation with and promote cooperation among the countries of central and eastern Europe in this area, within the framework provided by the Europe Agreements. This implies strengthening cooperation in the field of capacity-building, continuing to provide financial cooperation, comprising technical assistance especially in connection with the approximation of laws and their implementation and enforcement, investment support for environmental infrastructure and cooperation to promote better environmental practice, including by means of technology transfer.

2. In relation to the Mediterranean countries and the Mediterranean Basin, the priority objectives of the Community shall be:

(a) to develop, within the framework of the Barcelona Declaration of November 1995, a regional approach through regular dialogue, inter alia by means of ministerial conferences, and increased and improved cooperation, in particular in relation to financial and technical assistance;

(b) to establish a short and medium-term priority action programme in relation to the Mediterranean Basin and to develop a monitoring mechanism for its implementation.

3. In relation to the Baltic Sea region, the priority objectives of the Community shall be to strengthen environmental cooperation in the area within the existing regional frameworks and to enhance the coordination of the relevant funds in order to support the Helsinki Commission (Helcom) activities and, in particular, the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Environmental Programme (JCP).

4. In relation to the Rio process, the priority objectives of the Community shall be to ensure active Community participation in the process and in the follow-up to the 1997 Special Session of the UN General Assembly, and inter alia to contribute to:

(a) the strengthening of the Framework Convention on Climate Change in accordance with the Berlin mandate and subsequent decisions;

(b) the development of the Convention on Biological Diversity, including the promotion of national implementation strategies and the timely development of a biosafety protocol;

(c) the strengthening of international cooperation in the context of the Convention to Combat Desertification.

5. In relation to other international environmental issues, the priority objectives of the Community shall be:

(a) to carry out a policy review related to the integration of the sustainable development dimension in the implementation of the Fourth ACP-EC Convention; to evaluate Community development assistance overall to ensure that environmental appraisal systems are being followed;

(b) to strengthen the environmental component in cooperation with the Newly Independent States, in particular focusing on capacity-building and technical assistance under the TACIS Programme;

(c) to strengthen the environmental component of cooperation with the countries of Asia and Latin America in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 443/92 of 25 February 1992 on financial and technical assistance to, and economic cooperation with, the developing countries in Asia and Latin America (10) and with general guidelines for cooperation between the Community and the regions concerned;

(d) to promote active participation in regional conferences and treaties in Europe and the 'Environment for Europe process`;

(e) to support international work in the field of sustainable development indicators;

(f) to work towards the strengthening of provisions on enforcement and dispute settlement when international agreements come up for revision;

(g) to take an active part in negotiations on the adoption of a legally binding instrument establishing a prior informed consent procedure covering trade in certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides.

6. In relation to trade and the environment, the priority objectives of the Community shall be:

(a) to seek to ensure that the WTO rules, provisions and procedures take full account of the need to promote a high level of environmental protection, in particular as regards the general provisions;

(b) actively to participate in international discussions, in particular in the WTO, dealing with the issue of trade and the environment, where the Community, in accordance with the general aim of sustainable development, will promote a balanced approach to the respective concerns of the environment and trade focusing on the integration of environmental requirements into the multilateral trading system;

(c) to give preference to multilateral solutions to trade and environmental problems, respecting environmental and trade principles and promoting transparency in the definition and implementation of environmental measures, including new environmental policy instruments.