2nd
Asia-Europe Round Table
Draft Recommendations for an Action Plan
Introduction
The
Drafting Committee of the Round Table met and discussed the
findings and recommendations that emerged from the five working
groups which met on the afternoon of the 4th of
June. The Drafting Committee, however, recognises the importance
of establishing an institutional context for future action,
and this is therefore a prime focus of the draft recommendations
which are placed here.
Please
note however that these are draft recommendations and are subject
to modification in the light of comments and suggestions that
may still be offered. These recommendations will be placed
on the internet site of the Regional Institute of Environmental
Technology (RIET) – http:\\www.riet.org – Website of World
Environment Foundation-http:\\www.wem.net and comments sent
in by the 30 June will be considered for inclusion. The final
recommendations will be posted on the website by the 6th of
July.
The
Recommendations
1.
There is a need for a national facilitating organisation
(an individual-national facilitator – supported by an institution)
in each Asian country. But there will be 2 (and possibly
3) phases to these operations: phase 1 will be an exploratory
or provisional phase, and the second phase, which will depend
on the performance in phase 1, will be a kind of establishment
phase, which could result in a longer-term process (phase
3).
PHASE
1
Procedure
of selection
2.
RIET will call for expressions of interest from organizations
in respective Asian countries, by the 6th of
August, i.e. within one month of finalizing the draft recommendations
of this Round Table.
3.
Based on requests received, RIET will select a national
facilitating organisation.
Operation
and evaluation of achievement
4.
The National Facilitator will operate on a provisional
basis, subject to performance assessments and accomplishment
of milestones (to be determined later, under RIET supervision).
5.
During this period, the national facilitator will
i)
disseminate information about AEB and other European
programmes in the Asian country
ii)
increase the outreach of this dissemination (through
for example, information displays at selected industrial
events, seminars and other fora).
iii)
facilitate meetings and events between Asia and European
partners at different levels.
iv)
Bring together a provisional national working group (tentatively
titled the AEB Working Group), whose final selection,
however, will be determined by RIET in consultation with
its network of contacts in that country.
v)
Be invited to attend future AEB Round Tables to exchange
notes with facilitators from other countries.
vi)
Work towards milestones set up to evaluate achievement.
vii)
Initiate efforts to prepare an action plan for the next
phase, with suggestions for financial support.
viii)
Facilitate the development of local-level AEB clubs,
which can be region-specific or sector-specific but be
focussed on business-to-business interaction at least
to begin with.
ix)
Be involved in providing information and other backup
support to other industry-led initiatives, to set up
similar clubs.
Funding
6.
The national facilitator will not be initially financed
by the AEB or RIET, but these costs are to be met by the
supporting institution.
Operation
and responsibilities of the Working Group
7.
The National Working Group will examine studies of existing
national, regional or sub-regional environmental action plans
and other information, to identify options, opportunities
and gaps to recommend on (or at the most two) industrial
sectors of activity in Phase 2, for further action including
submissions to RIET/EU for approval for financing.
PHASE
2
8.
This phase will depend on the achievement of agreed milestones
(see 4 above), and can be a much larger scale of operation,
with more AEB funding, more institutional support and more
areas of action.
9.
The National Facilitator with the AEB Working Group at the
national level, will implement the agreed action plan during
this phase.
10.
In particular, the National Facilitator together with the
AEB working Group will seek to catalyse further the establishment
of AEB clubs at the local level, in the selected sector of
operation, concentrating on Small and Medium Enterprises
(SMEs), but not restricting involvement in these clubs to
SMEs alone.
11.
If needed, a national-level or Asia-level Advisory Panel
may be set up to oversee the operations in this Phase.
PHASE
3
12.
If this process grows up to beyond expections, the operations
of the National Facilitator and the Working Groups may
exceed the limits of the Asia EcoBest Programme, and this
could lead to a further phase with funding and programmes
from a boarder range of interested parties.
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