On September 27, 2014, the Sixth Meeting of the Council on Environmental Protection under the Integration Committee of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) took place at Lake Issyk-Kul in the Kyrgyz Republic. The meeting was attended by heads and representatives of ministries and agencies in the field of environmental protection from the member states of EurAsEC - the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and the Republic of Tajikistan, as well as representatives of the Secretariat of the Integration Committee of EurAsEC and international organizations.
The main tasks of the Council on Environmental Protection under the Integration Committee of EurAsEC include the development of proposals aimed at enhancing cooperation in the field of environmental protection, addressing common ecological problems, and facilitating the implementation of relevant decisions by the community's bodies.
On the eve of the meeting, on September 26 of this year, an expert meeting of the Parties was held, during which documents were agreed upon and draft decisions were prepared.
The high-level meeting on September 27 of this year was attended by:
Chairman of the Council – Sergey Efimovich Donskoy, Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation,
Members of the Council:
Tsalko Vladimir Grigoryevich - Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus;
Akhsembiev Talgat Abdykaimovich - Vice Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
Atadjanov Sabir Sadikjanovich - Director of the State Agency for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic;
Rakhimov Olim Sobirovich – Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Kyrgyz Republic (with full powers);
Usupov Usen Makaevich – Permanent Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Integration Committee of EurAsEC;
Ajekbarov Kanybek Ajekbarovich – Deputy Director of the Department of Border Issues, Economic Policy, and Target Programs of the Secretariat of the Integration Committee of EurAsEC, Responsible Secretary of the Council.
The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation, Donskoy Sergey Efimovich.
According to the agenda, the Council members discussed issues regarding changes to the composition of the Council on Environmental Protection under the Integration Committee of EurAsEC and the progress of implementing the decisions from the 5th meeting of the Council on Environmental Protection under the Integration Committee of EurAsEC.
The Director of the State Agency for Environmental Protection and Forestry under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, Atadjanov Sabir Sadikjanovich, presented a report on "Current Environmental Problems in the Kyrgyz Republic and Ways to Address Them."
The UN Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic, Avanesov Alexander Nikolaevich, presented information on "The Contribution of the UN Development Program to Environmental Conservation for Sustainable Development."
Additionally, a presentation on "The Global Program for the Conservation of the Snow Leopard and Its Ecosystems" was provided to the Council members by a representative of the Working Secretariat in the Kyrgyz Republic.
During the meeting, the developed draft Regulations "On the Expert Working Group on Air Protection under the Council on Environmental Protection under the Integration Committee of EurAsEC" and "On Conducting Expertise, Maintaining Registers of Methods for Calculating Pollutant Emission Levels into the Atmosphere and Software Products for Air Protection on the Territory of the Member States of EurAsEC" were reviewed, and corresponding decisions were made to approve them. The Director of the Federal State Institution VNIIEcology, Nedre Andrei Yuryevich, provided information on these documents.
The Deputy General Director of JSC "ROSGEOLOGIA," Metzner Alexander Nikolaevich, presented information on the implementation of innovative technologies in the processing of waste from gold mining enterprises. The Deputy Head of the UNIDO Center in the Russian Federation, Marev Vladimir Alexandrovich, presented on the regional GEF project "Reducing Emissions in the EurAsEC States by Optimizing the Management of Electronic and Electrical Equipment Waste."
In light of the cessation of EurAsEC activities as of January 1, 2015, and to address the issue of continuing cooperation in the format of the Council, a decision was made to recommend that the Parties consider a draft Agreement on the Council of Heads of Environmental Protection Authorities of the State Power of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, and the Republic of Tajikistan in the field of environmental protection.
Furthermore, for the next regular meeting of the Council on Environmental Protection under the Integration Committee of EurAsEC, the Council members were invited to submit proposals regarding the venue and date for the 7th meeting within a month.
Subsequently, according to the agenda, the following were signed:
- A Memorandum between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation and the State Agency for Environmental Protection and Forestry under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic on cooperation in the field of environmental protection.
- A program for ensuring environmental and technical safety of tailings storage facilities for radioactive waste in the villages of Ak-Tyuz and Orlovka in the Kemin district of the Chui region of the Kyrgyz Republic. The program was signed by the Council members from the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Following the review of all agenda items, corresponding decisions were made, which are reflected in the Protocol of the meeting of the Council on Environmental Protection under the Integration Committee of the Eurasian Economic Community.
In conclusion, the Council members officially signed the Protocol of the 6th meeting and awarded certificates to distinguished representatives of the environmental protection services of the member states of EurAsEC.
