Tools to integrate the Environment in EU co-operationDevelopment co-operation strategies between the EU and individual countries or regions, known as Country and Regional Strategy Papers (CSPs/RSPs), must integrate both the country’s national strategies for development and EC objectives. The programming phase – the process of consultation between the EU and individual governments through which the utilisation of the money for a given period is planned - is crucial for environmental integration because key decisions on the overall co-operation process are made then. The main tools for environmental integration in programming are the Country and the Regional Environmental Profiles ( CEPs/REPs) , which provide the preparation of the Country and Regional Strategy Papers with information on the environmental situation and key challenges. At the national level, Strategic Environmental Assessment ( SEA) is a tool useful to integrate the environment into development policies and strategies. At project level, Environmental Impact Assessment ( EIA) is a tool that assesses the potential environmental impacts of a proposed project and its alternatives, in order to propose appropriate measures to mitigate negative environmental impacts and optimise positive effects, and assist the decision-making process. In 2004, the Commission set up a Help-Desk and a Support and Resources website in order to assist staff and partner countries to mainstream environmental considerations in European development co-operation. FERN and ICCO have develop Briefing Note to facilitate lobbying by civil society organisations wanting to advocate the integration of environmental issues into the next round of co-operation agreements between the European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. WWF also developed a handbook explaining the ACP-EU Cotonou agreement and its importance at the environmental level.
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