In 2006 the European Commission, Directorate General for the Environment, decided to launch a project in Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Turkey, aimed at improving the implementation of environmental regulation in these countries.

The overall objective of the project is to improve the ability of local and regional authorities to implement the environmental acquis. This will be done through providing support and training to local authorities in the production of strategic, integrated, action-oriented plans and programmes at local level with a particular focus on urban areas. The project will focus particularly on the air, noise, waste and water sectors, in a series of target local authorities in each country. Each country will appoint pilot areas in order to gain experience that can be disseminated to the rest of the country.

Training takes place at regional and national workshops. Two multi-country workshops are also included, at which the participating countries can exchange experience and views.

The project started in October 2006 and is expected to be completed by April 2008.

The project is implemented and managed by an international Consortium which includes national companies from each country.

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