Session 1 Welcome and presentations

Mr. Ladislav Miko,   Minister of the Environment, welcomed all the participants and evoked his own involvement in IMPEL network, which he started with the AC IMPEL preparation during the meeting in Luxembourg, and continued as IMPEL National Coordinator for the Czech Republic.

He congratulated IMPEL on finding ways to continue its work in spite of all the structural and financial changes in the past period and underlined the importance of General Assembly in Prague for the  Czech Republic and also for the possibility to discuss items that are high on the country's political agenda.

Ms. Eva Tylová,  Director of the Czech Environmental Inspectorate, stressed the importance IMPEL membership has for the Czech Republic and wished everyone a fruitful and enjoyable meeting.

Agenda item 1.1 - Adoption of agenda

The agenda was adopted without comments.

Agenda item 1.2 -  Presentation of the Czech Environmental Inspectorate

Ms Tylová gave a presentation in which she described the importance of soft methods and communication with media and other institutions. IMPEL provides valuable opportunity for exchange of experiences and Czech Environmental Inspectorate wishes to give active contribution to its activities. Questions were asked about the scope of activities of the Inspectorate and its independent status.

Agenda item 1.3 - Presentation of CENIA (Czech Environmental Information Agency)

The presentation illustrated in a very vivid way the different levels of detail that can be applied when communicating with the public. It underlined the importance of quality information in the work of environmental authorities.

Session 2 Overview of ongoing projects and Cluster Progress Reports

Agenda item 2.1 - Cluster 1 progress report

Gisela Holzgraefe gave the presentation, last time as chair of Cluster 1

The last Cluster meeting took place in Brussels, on 2-3 April 2009. Isabel Santana was approved as the new Chair. The work is ongoing on Multi-annual work programme for Cluster 1.

Update was given on the following projects: Comparison programme for landfill inspection and monitoring, Guidelines for environmental inspections of the cement industry,  Reporting to the public about environmental inspections, ENVTARIFFS, Comparison programme on permitting and inspection of IPPC  pig farming installations, Development of a new IRI scheme, IRI project in Portugal,  Lessons learnt from accidents, Doing the right things III- Implementation of the step by step guidance book on planning of environmental inspections,   Development of performance indicators for inspecting  authorities.

During the discussion following the presentation, the idea was advanced for a project on identities of inspections, inspired by the debate about the independent status of the Czech inspection. .

Agenda item 2.2 - Cluster TFS progress report

John Burns gave the presentation, which marked the end of his mandate as Cluster 2 Chair.

The annual Cluster conference was held in Sweden. The cluster currently has 24 members and 8 projects in the multi-annual programme.

The update was given on the following ongoing and completed projects: European Enforcement Actions, Inspector Exchange Days, E Waste, EU Africa Collaboration, 2009 Annual Conference, IMPEL TFS Website, IMPEL TFS – SBC MOU, High Level Management Meeting.

Rainer Werneburg was announced as new Cluster Chair starting from July.

It was mentioned in particular that World Customs Organisation is interested in working more with IMPEL and TFS.

Agenda item 2.3- Cluster 3 progress report

Jan Teekens gave the presentation.

The last Cluster meeting took place on 13 March in Stockholm. Ed Mitchell was confirmed as co-chair of Cluster 3.

The Cluster work was presented at a seminar organised by European Institute of Public Administration in Maastricht, as well as at a meeting of the Better Regulation Interest Group (BRIG) of the Network of Heads of European Environment Protection Agencies (NEPA) in London. The Cluster discussed improving links with NEPA. The Cluster and NEPA BRIG Group have agreed to produce a merged version of the two P&E checklists and at the same time further clarify the collaboration between IMPEL and the NEPA.

Cluster representatives attended a conference of SKEP network in Stockholm to discuss possible areas for future collaboration.

Session 3: Reports on completed projects

Agenda item 3.1 TFS WEEE project (UK)

John Burns presented the project and report on the effectiveness of the proposed recast WEEE Directive which was subsequently adopted by the meeting.

It was suggested that the report could be presented to relevant stakeholders such as the European Commission and the European Parliament, and a press release could be done. 

Agenda item 3.2 Resolution of environmental conflicts through dialogue (DE)

Gisela Holzgraefe presented the report and it was adopted by the meeting

The next phase of the project is being considered as well as the translation of the condensed version of the guidelines into German.

Agenda item 3.3 TFS IMPEL Conference 2009 Östersund

The TFS IMPEL Conference took place from 18 to 20 March in Östersund, Sweden. Representatives from 27 countries and representatives from the Secretariat of the Basel Convention, the World Customs Organization, the European Commission, the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China, and other Asian delegates from Japan (Asian network) and Thailand, Interpol and RILO  / Asian Pacific region attended the meeting. For the first time a Public Prosecutor presented experiences and cases on criminal prosecution of illegal waste shipments. The conference ended with a session in which Industry and an NGO’s gave their views on enforcement followed by an open panel discussion.

The meeting adopted the report.

Agenda item 3.4 Implementation Conference 2009 in Romania

Ed Eggink and Mihaela Beu presented the latest version of the programme as well as the organisational aspects for the  Conference on Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental legislation: Working Together For a Better Environment,  which will take place on 23 – 25 September 2009 in Sibiu (Romania).

Session 4: Organisational matters

Agenda item 4.1 Overwiew by the secretariat

Lukrecija Kireta gave the presentation on her first month as IMPEL Secretary. The activities revolved mostly around   setting up the new IMPEL office and meeting room and presenting IMPEL to other networks.

Agenda item 4.2 Business Plan

A presentation was given by the IMPEL Secretary on LIFE+ grant and the implications it has on the planning of budget and activities.

An overview of the implementation of the business plan adopted by the General Assembly in Paris was given. As it is necessary to further align the business plan with the budget included in the LIFE+ agreement, an  updated financial overview will be produced in July, after the project leaders have submitted their financial information. 

Agenda item 4.3 Memorandum of understanding with the European Commision

Terry Shears informed the meeting of the signing ceremony scheduled for 7 July in Brussels. The MoU will be signed by Gerard Wolters on behalf of IMPEL and Karl Falkenberg, Director General, on behalf of DG Environment.

Agenda item 4.4

Discussion on membership fee

It was proposed that the minimum membership fee would be raised to 2000 EUR per member.

Some countries declared not being able to decide immediately. The majority voted in favour of the decision that the Membership fee would remain 5000 EUR with a minimum of 2000 EUR. A lower fee can be negotiated with the Board with the support of the Secretariat. The Internal Rules will be modified accordingly.

Agenda item 4.5. Proposal for a new IMPEL communication strategy

Jan Teekens reminded the General Assembly that at the Paris meeting it was decided  to have a Communication strategy for IMPEL, and  presented the proposal. 

The proposal was adopted and the implementation starts as soon as possible, taking into account available resources.

Session 5: Other organisations and networks

Update on EU Activities

Hans Lopatta gave the update on EU activities and announced the Ad Hoc experts’ group meeting to be held on 3 July in Brussels. The meeting noted the report.

Agenda item 5.2 Gerard Wolters gave the update on INECE.  The meeting noted the report.

Agenda item 5.3 Mihail Dimovski gave the update on ECENA. The meeting noted the report.

Agenda item 5.4 Written update was given on REPIN.

Agenda item 5.5 Martin Baranyai gave the update on GreenForce. The meeting noted the report.

Session 6: Workshop

Agenda item 6.1 and 6.2: Workshop “Future work of IMPEL “

Two parallel workshops discussed organisation and types of future IMPEL projects, as well as priority areas.

Session 7: Future work of IMPEL

Agenda item 7.1 took forward the recommendations of the workshops (session 6) and formulated actions to be taken.

The main recommendations were:

• Countries proposing projects should look at possibilities of collaborating with other countries, perhaps in the form of co-leading the project
• A questionnaire will be sent to National Coordinators with the aim of finding ways to make more countries more active. The questionnaire will be sent within 10 days of the GA, and answers will be expected within 4 weeks from then. Those countries not able to meet the deadline should inform the Secretariat as soon as possible.
• Possible projects that would help tackle climate change will be looked at.

Agenda item 7.2

Terry Shears presented the letter of a consultancy involved in the  feasibility study on the waste implementation study. It was agreed that the answers would be given by countries through IMPEL, but underlining that this would not represent the position of IMPEL, which only serves as intermediary.

Session 8: Miscellaneous Activities

Agenda item 8.1

Summary Conclusions were presented and discussed. The meeting adopted the summary conclusions as the basis for the full conclusions (see Annex I)

Session 8: Miscellaneous Activities

Agenda item 8.2 Next General Assembly

Inga Birgitta Larsson presented the venue of the General Assembly in December 2009.