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Creation of the Institute for European Environmental Policy
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
Creation of The Institute for European Environmental Policy On 8 December 1975 the European Cultural Foundation officially announced the creation of an "Institute for European Environmental Policy" during a gathering held in Paris and presided over by the Foundation's President, H R H Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. This Institute, which is headquartered in Bonn,* will be chaired by Monsieur Edgar Faure, President of the National Assembly of the French Parliament.** Aims of the Institute
The Institute develops strategies on an international basis to deal with crucial environmental problems which arise, more particularly, in Europe. It endeavors to propose alternatives to parliamentary assemblies (national parliaments, the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) to enable them to prepare for public debates and decisions. An institute was lacking which could provide such assistance. Because of the *Adenauerallee 214, D-53 Bonn, Tel: (022 21) 22 6 6 4 1 . **Besides Monsieur Faure, Chairman, the Board o f t h e Institute benefits from t h e participation of: The Chairman of the European Parliament, - The Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council o f Europe, -- W. Burhenne, Secretary General o f the int erparlamentarische Arbeitsgemeinschaft, Bonn, - H. Dichgans, Vice-Chairman o f the Fonds fiir Umweltstudien, Secretary General of the Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e,V., K61n, - R. Georis, Secretary General o f the European Cultural Foundation, A m s t e r d a m , - R. Louet, Director General, Conseil ~conomique et social de la CEF, BruxeUes, - E. Markelin, Professor, Universit~it Stuttgart, - A. van Trier, Chairman, Raad van Advies voor het Wetenschapsbeleid, The Hague, - K. von Moltke, Director o f the Institute.
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complexity of the problems of environmental policy, the study and preparation of solutions are increasingly being delegated to executive and administrative authorities. If parliamentary democracy is to be viable in Europe, then parliamentary institutions must be reinforced to cope with these problems. Moreover the demands of environmental policy making are such that they surpass the scope of govermentally and intergovernmentally sponsored research bodies. An independent center is in a better position to evaluate information and existing policies critically, placing them in a long-term perspective. Through that work parliaments would be strengthened in their control function and their power of initiative. Further, as Edgar Faure, Chairman of the new Institute, stated, "Le vaste probl~me de l'environnement restitue au Parlement sa v6ritable comp6tence
et lui ouvre des espaces nouveaux. Et c'est aussi typiquement le sujet qui permet une collaboration parlementaire politique et internationale et tout d'abord, naturellement, europ6enne~' The Institute normally does not undertake primary or basic research but works from the results attaine.d by research centers. In developing its programme of work the Institute not only considers the scientific and legal aspects of the problems but also their social relevance. The Institute does not finance projects which could or should be financed by governments or inter-governmental agencies or by the major national research organizations, except to promote the support of these bodies in work it considers particularly important. Faure summed up the purposes of the Institute as follows: "(1) Nous devons rassembler, coordonner, trier les ensembles de donn~es relatives /t l'environnement et fi partir de cette documentation, pr6parer des lignes d'orientation et des sch6mas de d6cision. "(2) Nous devons assurer une collaboration directe et des contacts humains r~guliers entre les spdcialistes de l'infonnation scientifique et les agents 61us de la d6cision politique.
At the opening of the Institute for European Environmental Policy are pictured, from left, President E. Faure, R. Georis, A. Berard and HRH the Prince of the Netherlands.
Environmental Policy and Law, I (1975/76)
"(3) Nous pr6parerons l'un apr+s l'autre sur ces bases de grands projets qui seront propos6s g la fois aux pouvoirs publics qu'il nous appartient d'dclairer et aux instances parlementaires nationales ou communautaires. "I1 faudra d'ailleurs alter plus loin encore et, aprOs avoir associ6 les hommes du savoir et les hommes du pouvoir, ne pas n~gliger d'attirer dans notre entreprise les hommes de Faction, les producteurs, les animateurs de l'~conomie, les entreprises elles-m6mes et les partenaires sociaux. "L'Europe doit 6tre d'abord une conscience et dans la mesure o~5 nous aurons contribu6 fi cette prise de conscience, notre rencontre aujourd'hui n'aura pas ~t6 inutile."
T h e E u r o p e a n Cultural F o u n d a t i o n
The Institute is part of the European Cultural Foundation. The Foundation, established in 1954 and based in Amsterdam, is an independent organization with no political or governmental affiliation. It is devoted to:
contract to undertake research for nonparliamentary, national or international institutions if that research is connected with its own programme and not likely to limit its scientific independence. Its work will be interdisciplinary and consider all the implications of the problems tackled: economic, sociological, political, pedagogic - in the overall socio-economic and cultural context. The results of the Instftute's work will be published. The Institute elaborates on work begun by the Fonds ftir Umweltstudien and the European Cultural Foundation. It benefits from the institutional support of these organizations, the latter of which covers its general expenses. The Institute will have a full-time director and a limited staff with expeT h e Main Characteristics o f t h e I n s t i t u t e rience in policy research. Members of the research staff will normally work The Institute is private and nonon limited contracts. Corresponding profit making. It will have full academmembers of the Institute will assure ic and scientific autonomy, and will be close and institutionalized cooperation international in the composition of its Board and staff, in the focus of its activ- with other scientific and technical instiities and its approach. The Institute may tutes, as well as with decision makers.
the support, through grants, of cultural and scientific activities of European "inspiration. - the stimulation, coordination and diffusion of research studies and experiments aimed at: (a) exploring and evaluating the possible futures of the European continent through study of the interactions between economic, political, cultural and social phenomena. (b) defining methods to attain these ends. - drawing the attention of the public and of the various national and European leaders to the alternatives presented. - presenting alternative solutions when changes under way have not proved satisfactory on a European level.
IUCN Governing Assembly i. Open Democracy The IUCN's 12th General Assembly was held at the N'Sele Conference Centre near Kinshasa, Zaire, from 8 to 18 September 1975. Since the IUCN is a membership organization, the function of the triennial General Assemblies is to provide that membership the opportunity to execute its responsibilities under the Statutes. These responsibilities include approval of the programme and budget for the coming triennium, matter of policy, passing of resolutions and election of officers. The Zaire meeting was characterized by a greater degree of participation by the membership than ever before. Many committee meetings were open to the membership, and a series of open fora were held at which the membership was requested to express its views and questions on the programme and budget Environmental Policy and Law, 1 (1975/76)
and other specific matters. Statements by various delegates at the final Session emphasized that the membership had never before played such an active and effective role in developing the Union's program and policies. The General Assembly adopted a sharply-focused action programme for the years 1976 - 1978.1 This programme concentrates on nature conservation 2, with the Union making preinvestment studies, catalyzing action by FAO, UNESCO and others, as well as formulating projects for WWF support. These activities will be supported by efforts in the development of public awareness and in environmental policy, law and administration, a Work on international conventions on conservation topics4was seen as a continuing part of IUCN strategy.
The meeting was opened with eclat by President Mobutu of Zaire, who arrived by helicopter at the N'Sele Centre and paraded to the opening ceremony at the head of his special guards. His inaugural speech was an unequivocal declaration that Zaire was dedicated to the cause of conservation, its stated objective being to bring 15% of national territory under protection as national parks and reserves° . Within the national philosophy of "authenticity", Zaire will progress through balanced development based on conservation principles. The resolutions 6 adopted included support for the call by President Mobutu of Zaire for a Charter for Nature to set down basic principles and concerns for the care of nature throughout the world. Requests from African participants for the integration of nature and culture and for conservation to be given a secure place in the context of rural development were strongly endorsed. A far-reaching resolution on energy and conservation was also carried. This resolution, prepared by an expert panel which had met over a two-year period, called on governments to explore all means for conserving conventional energy resources; to exercise restraint in any 195
Creation of The Institute for European Environmental Policy On 8 December 1975 the European Cultural Foundation officially announced the creation of an "Institute for European Environmental Policy" during a gathering held in Paris and presided over by the Foundation's President, H R H Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. This Institute, which is headquartered in Bonn,* will be chaired by Monsieur Edgar Faure, President of the National Assembly of the French Parliament.** Aims of the Institute
The Institute develops strategies on an international basis to deal with crucial environmental problems which arise, more particularly, in Europe. It endeavors to propose alternatives to parliamentary assemblies (national parliaments, the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) to enable them to prepare for public debates and decisions. An institute was lacking which could provide such assistance. Because of the *Adenauerallee 214, D-53 Bonn, Tel: (022 21) 22 6 6 4 1 . **Besides Monsieur Faure, Chairman, the Board o f t h e Institute benefits from t h e participation of: The Chairman of the European Parliament, - The Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council o f Europe, -- W. Burhenne, Secretary General o f the int erparlamentarische Arbeitsgemeinschaft, Bonn, - H. Dichgans, Vice-Chairman o f the Fonds fiir Umweltstudien, Secretary General of the Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e,V., K61n, - R. Georis, Secretary General o f the European Cultural Foundation, A m s t e r d a m , - R. Louet, Director General, Conseil ~conomique et social de la CEF, BruxeUes, - E. Markelin, Professor, Universit~it Stuttgart, - A. van Trier, Chairman, Raad van Advies voor het Wetenschapsbeleid, The Hague, - K. von Moltke, Director o f the Institute.
194
complexity of the problems of environmental policy, the study and preparation of solutions are increasingly being delegated to executive and administrative authorities. If parliamentary democracy is to be viable in Europe, then parliamentary institutions must be reinforced to cope with these problems. Moreover the demands of environmental policy making are such that they surpass the scope of govermentally and intergovernmentally sponsored research bodies. An independent center is in a better position to evaluate information and existing policies critically, placing them in a long-term perspective. Through that work parliaments would be strengthened in their control function and their power of initiative. Further, as Edgar Faure, Chairman of the new Institute, stated, "Le vaste probl~me de l'environnement restitue au Parlement sa v6ritable comp6tence
et lui ouvre des espaces nouveaux. Et c'est aussi typiquement le sujet qui permet une collaboration parlementaire politique et internationale et tout d'abord, naturellement, europ6enne~' The Institute normally does not undertake primary or basic research but works from the results attaine.d by research centers. In developing its programme of work the Institute not only considers the scientific and legal aspects of the problems but also their social relevance. The Institute does not finance projects which could or should be financed by governments or inter-governmental agencies or by the major national research organizations, except to promote the support of these bodies in work it considers particularly important. Faure summed up the purposes of the Institute as follows: "(1) Nous devons rassembler, coordonner, trier les ensembles de donn~es relatives /t l'environnement et fi partir de cette documentation, pr6parer des lignes d'orientation et des sch6mas de d6cision. "(2) Nous devons assurer une collaboration directe et des contacts humains r~guliers entre les spdcialistes de l'infonnation scientifique et les agents 61us de la d6cision politique.
At the opening of the Institute for European Environmental Policy are pictured, from left, President E. Faure, R. Georis, A. Berard and HRH the Prince of the Netherlands.
Environmental Policy and Law, I (1975/76)
"(3) Nous pr6parerons l'un apr+s l'autre sur ces bases de grands projets qui seront propos6s g la fois aux pouvoirs publics qu'il nous appartient d'dclairer et aux instances parlementaires nationales ou communautaires. "I1 faudra d'ailleurs alter plus loin encore et, aprOs avoir associ6 les hommes du savoir et les hommes du pouvoir, ne pas n~gliger d'attirer dans notre entreprise les hommes de Faction, les producteurs, les animateurs de l'~conomie, les entreprises elles-m6mes et les partenaires sociaux. "L'Europe doit 6tre d'abord une conscience et dans la mesure o~5 nous aurons contribu6 fi cette prise de conscience, notre rencontre aujourd'hui n'aura pas ~t6 inutile."
T h e E u r o p e a n Cultural F o u n d a t i o n
The Institute is part of the European Cultural Foundation. The Foundation, established in 1954 and based in Amsterdam, is an independent organization with no political or governmental affiliation. It is devoted to:
contract to undertake research for nonparliamentary, national or international institutions if that research is connected with its own programme and not likely to limit its scientific independence. Its work will be interdisciplinary and consider all the implications of the problems tackled: economic, sociological, political, pedagogic - in the overall socio-economic and cultural context. The results of the Instftute's work will be published. The Institute elaborates on work begun by the Fonds ftir Umweltstudien and the European Cultural Foundation. It benefits from the institutional support of these organizations, the latter of which covers its general expenses. The Institute will have a full-time director and a limited staff with expeT h e Main Characteristics o f t h e I n s t i t u t e rience in policy research. Members of the research staff will normally work The Institute is private and nonon limited contracts. Corresponding profit making. It will have full academmembers of the Institute will assure ic and scientific autonomy, and will be close and institutionalized cooperation international in the composition of its Board and staff, in the focus of its activ- with other scientific and technical instiities and its approach. The Institute may tutes, as well as with decision makers.
the support, through grants, of cultural and scientific activities of European "inspiration. - the stimulation, coordination and diffusion of research studies and experiments aimed at: (a) exploring and evaluating the possible futures of the European continent through study of the interactions between economic, political, cultural and social phenomena. (b) defining methods to attain these ends. - drawing the attention of the public and of the various national and European leaders to the alternatives presented. - presenting alternative solutions when changes under way have not proved satisfactory on a European level.
IUCN Governing Assembly i. Open Democracy The IUCN's 12th General Assembly was held at the N'Sele Conference Centre near Kinshasa, Zaire, from 8 to 18 September 1975. Since the IUCN is a membership organization, the function of the triennial General Assemblies is to provide that membership the opportunity to execute its responsibilities under the Statutes. These responsibilities include approval of the programme and budget for the coming triennium, matter of policy, passing of resolutions and election of officers. The Zaire meeting was characterized by a greater degree of participation by the membership than ever before. Many committee meetings were open to the membership, and a series of open fora were held at which the membership was requested to express its views and questions on the programme and budget Environmental Policy and Law, 1 (1975/76)
and other specific matters. Statements by various delegates at the final Session emphasized that the membership had never before played such an active and effective role in developing the Union's program and policies. The General Assembly adopted a sharply-focused action programme for the years 1976 - 1978.1 This programme concentrates on nature conservation 2, with the Union making preinvestment studies, catalyzing action by FAO, UNESCO and others, as well as formulating projects for WWF support. These activities will be supported by efforts in the development of public awareness and in environmental policy, law and administration, a Work on international conventions on conservation topics4was seen as a continuing part of IUCN strategy.
The meeting was opened with eclat by President Mobutu of Zaire, who arrived by helicopter at the N'Sele Centre and paraded to the opening ceremony at the head of his special guards. His inaugural speech was an unequivocal declaration that Zaire was dedicated to the cause of conservation, its stated objective being to bring 15% of national territory under protection as national parks and reserves° . Within the national philosophy of "authenticity", Zaire will progress through balanced development based on conservation principles. The resolutions 6 adopted included support for the call by President Mobutu of Zaire for a Charter for Nature to set down basic principles and concerns for the care of nature throughout the world. Requests from African participants for the integration of nature and culture and for conservation to be given a secure place in the context of rural development were strongly endorsed. A far-reaching resolution on energy and conservation was also carried. This resolution, prepared by an expert panel which had met over a two-year period, called on governments to explore all means for conserving conventional energy resources; to exercise restraint in any 195