Policies promoting competition and privatization are used by respective ministries in all CEE countries. A complete, economic restructuring is the most important consequence of this development. However, institutional enforcement capacity at local level, most of all, must be strengthened significantly. One of the EAP requirements is to strengthen local environmental planning. Despite the fact that planning was the most characteristic feature of previous economic systems in the CEE countries, local environmental planning is quite a new challenge.
Environmental planning is an open process that uses and combines different instruments and tools.
The greatest contribution to improved environmental management is likely to come from strengthening local and regional institutions within countries. In particular, improving their capacity to identify priorities, develop policy, ensure environmental compliance, and also to operate financial systems. Substantial local participation is essential, both to formulate advice that can be implemented and to improve local capacity to achieve better environmental performance from existing facilities. Neither governments nor donor institutions are equipped to judge how local inhabitants value their environment. Municipalities should increase the level of cooperation-operation and coordination with the goal of enhancing the information and experience exchange between local authorities.