Environmental Heavy-Cost Investment Planning in Turkey

Drains and sewers, treatment plants, waste disposal sites, incineration, recycling, environmentally friendly production plants for industry - substantial investment is required in the environmental sector before Turkey can be considered ready for EU membership. And the order in which these investments are made is of considerable importance.

In 2003, an international consortium lead by COWI and operating under the name of ENVEST Planners was appointed to help the Turkish Ministry of Environment and Forest develop a comprehensive investment plan for the country's environmental sector. The project was being financed by the EU, which entered into agreement with Turkey in 2002 to hasten the pace of preparations for EU accession. On 8 November 2005, a reception was held to mark the completion of the project.

According to estimates by ENVEST Planners, Turkey needs to invest about EUR 65-70 billion in the environmental sector in order to meet EU environmental directives, and the present environmental investment and planning project is the first step. In addition to the investment plan, the project covers six specific environmental initiatives as well as training for the Turkish administration.