The "Environment for Europe" process aims to improve environmental quality in the pan-European region and provides a framework for cooperation on environmental matters with Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Participating in this process are 56 member states within the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), international organisations, funding institutions and NGOs.
The "Environment for Europe" process was launched by the environment ministers of UNECE member states at the Dobris conference in 1991 in order to support countries in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia in the development and implementation of environmental legislation. Environmental cooperation with these countries and capacity building are the main instruments implemented with a view to improving the quality of the environment and harmonising environmental standards across the pan-European region. Responsibility for this process now lies with the UNECE Committee on Environmental Policy.
This process offers a unique platform for environmental cooperation between the 56 member states of the UNECE, international organisations and funding institutions, but also with civil society and private sector partners.
Themes
The main themes addressed in the "Environment for Europe" process are as follows:
- promotion and implementation of UNECE Conventions at the regional level (air pollution, surface waters, environmental impact assessments, industrial accidents, public access to information and to justice)
- environmental governance
- pan-European environmental assessment reports
- green economy
- sustainable consumption and production
- sustainable energy
- environment and security
- environment and health
- environmental financing
- education for sustainable development
Implementation
The process is implemented in particular by the UNECE, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European Environment Agency (EEA), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the Regional Environmental Centres (REC).
Ministerial Conferences
In the Environment for Europe process, environment ministers meet every four or five years. The ninth Environment for Europe conference took place from 5 to 7 October 2022 in Nicosia (Cyprus) and was intended as a regional contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. A ministerial declaration was adopted encouraging commitment to all the legal instruments and environmental processes in the UNECE framework. In Nicosia, the member states reaffirmed their commitment to the strategic framework for the green economy up to 2030. Two major initiatives were launched, one on sustainable infrastructure and the other on sustainable tourism. Switzerland has voluntarily committed to these two initiatives. At the Nicosia Conference, the member states also reported on implementation of their voluntary commitments under the Batumi Initiative on Green Economy (BIG-E) and the Batumi Action for Cleaner Air (BACA). The participating states will report on the progress made in implementing their commitments at a mid-term review in November 2025. The Nicosia Conference also produced a ministerial declaration specifically on education for sustainable development.
Switzerland's commitment and interest
Switzerland played a key role in the creation of the "Environment for Europe" process. The FOEN, which is responsible for this process, continues to be actively involved in it. This process allows Switzerland, as a non-member country of the EU, to work closely on environmental initiatives with stakeholders throughout the pan-European region. The greater focus on the countries of Central Europe and the Caucasus is also in Switzerland's interest, since it leads a voting group in the Global Environment Facility (GEF) that includes countries in Central Asia and Azerbaijan.
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) contribute to the process primarily through bilateral and regional cooperation with the countries concerned.
Further information
Last modification 20.06.2025
