During the transition from central planning to market-based economies, governments in the CEE countries have faced the difficult task of balancing environmental concerns with economic development. The initial focus has primarily been on restructuring the economy and restoring private ownership and economic competition. However, environmental protection has become increasingly accepted as an element in developing national policies.
Most governments consider it essential to the successful completion of economic reforms.
Governments now face a myriad of complex and often conflicting priorities between economic reforms, privatization activities and environmental protection. After this split, former CMEA members had to reorganize economic agreements and identify new markets. While in other countries, the decrease in industrial output has not yet stopped nor has it reached bottom. They experienced the creation of a large number of new enterprises, mainly small and medium, over the past few years. Mass privatization was expected to improve environmental conditions.