This document discusses several European Union-supported projects focused on sustainable management of natural resources across borders. It describes projects aimed at improving energy efficiency, developing renewable energy, protecting water resources and managing waste. Specific projects highlighted include developing common models for reducing energy use in municipal buildings in Poland and Russia, installing solar energy and biomass equipment in Poland and Ukraine, extending sewage treatment systems along the Bug River between Poland and Belarus, and fostering partnerships for cross-border water protection among Poland, Lithuania and Russia. The document emphasizes how such cross-border cooperation projects can promote sustainable development, reduce environmental threats, and improve quality of life in border regions.

1. Cross-border management of natural resources
Ewa Kochaoska
RIC Pro-Akademia
Bioenergy for the Region Cluster

2. Source: http://www.economist.com
….but Nature Knows No Borders…..

4. A G E N D A
1. Climate change
2. Air pollution
3. Renewable energy projects:
#Energy-efficient resource management - common models for small towns on the example of Kętrzyn and Svetly
#Renewable sources of energy- method of improving the quality of natural environment within the area of the
Lubaczów District and Javoriv Region
3. Water Potection and Waste management projects:
#Extension of the cross-border sewage treatment system in drainage area of the river Bug (Western)
#Partnership for cross-border water protection in the area of Lithuanian, Polish and Russian
4. The Baltic Sea pollution projects:
#Improvement of water quality of the Baltic Sea through the development of Phase I and Phase II
#Baltic Master II
5. Protection of nature and biodiversity. Flora and fauna, Forests projects:
#Optimisation of the role of the forest in the protection of water courses and humid zones

5. 1.Human rights must be asserted, apartheid and colonialism condemned
2. Natural resources must be safeguarded
3. The Earth’s capacity to produce renewable resources must be maintained
4. Wildlife must be safeguarded
5. Non-renewable resources must be shared and not exhausted
6. Pollution must not exceed the environment’s capacity to clean itself
7. Damaging oceanic pollution must be prevented
8. Development is needed to improve the environment
9. Developing countries therefore need assistance
10. Developing countries need reasonable prices for exports to carry out environmental management
11. Environment policy must not hamper development
12. Developing countries need money to develop environmental safeguards
13. Integrated development planning is needed
14. Rational planning should resolve conflicts between environment and development
15. Human settlements must be planned to eliminate environmental problems
16. Governments should plan their own appropriate population policies
17. National institutions must plan development of states’ natural resources
18. Science and technology must be used to improve the environment
19. Environmental education is essential
20. Environmental research must be promoted, particularly in developing countries
21. States may exploit their resources as they wish but must not endanger others
22. Compensation is due to states thus endangered
23. Each nation must establish its own standards
24. There must be cooperation on international issues
25. International organizations should help to improve the environment
26. Weapons of mass destruction must be eliminated
THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT,
Stokholm, 1972

6. Article 174
Community policy on the environment shall contribute to pursuit of the following
objectives:
— preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment,
— protecting human health,
— prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources,
— promoting measures at international level to deal with regional or worldwide
environmental problems.
THE TREATY ON EUROPEAN UNION
AND OF THE TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

7. Climate change is not only an environmental problem.
Climate change
It is also clearly a development problem since its adverse
effects will disproportionately affect the countries, whose
economies are predominantly based on natural resources
and related economic sectors (agriculture, forestry and
fisheries).
It is therefore in the general interest to promote, in the
cross-border countries as well, sustainable trends in
greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), the greatest culprits of
climate change.
Extreme weather events – storms, floods, droughts and
heat waves – becoming more frequent and more severe.

8. Air pollution
 Air pollutants, including fine particles and ozone precursors, can travel thousands of
kilometers across the continent by air. In many cities, only a part of local air pollution is
generated by the city itself.
 European air pollutant concentrations still frequently exceed limit values set by the EU Air Quality Directives.
Many Member States have either not complied, or will not comply by the required target dates, with legally-
binding air quality limits set for the protection of human health.
 Only 14 European countries expect to comply with national 2010 emission ceilings for four
pollutants (NOx, NMVOC, SO2 and NH3) set under EU and international legislation. The ceiling
for nitrogen oxides (NOx) remains by far the most difficult for many countries to meet – 12 countries estimate
they will exceed the ceiling, in some cases significantly, by up to 50 %.
 Cities emit 69 % of Europe's CO2.
 There were 12.8 million new vehicles registered in the EU in 2011. The average CO2 emissions for these cars
was 135.7 grams CO2 per kilometer, which is 4.6g CO2/km less than in 2010 – a reduction of 3.3 %.
 There were 8,700 pure electric cars registered in the EU in 2011. While this number is only
0.07 % of new cars registered, so did not significantly influence the EU average emissions, it is
a 10-fold increase on 2010.

9. Czech Republic and Poland cross-border projects
Improving the quality of the air at the borders of the Czech
Republic and Poland, cross-border projects in Krkonoše and co-
operation in other areas of nature conservation.
In respect of air quality in the border region, the Ministers of
Poland and Czech Republic agreed that efforts should be made to
reduce the level of air pollution in the cross-border region of
Silesia, support joint use of the funds from the EU programmes
concerned with air protection, contribute to harmonising and
increasing the effectiveness of instruments for managing air
protection in the Polish-Czech cross-border areas and also increase
sharing of information and mutual collaboration in effort to resolve
the unsatisfactory quality of the air in the Moravian-Silesian Region
and in the Silesian Voivodship.
“The subject of air protection in the Moravian-Silesian Region, and
not only there, is a highly important topic for us,” it is our goal to
organise negotiations between representatives of the two
countries with participation of local municipalities, regions and
voivodships, which need to be consulted on the possibilities of
improving air quality”.

10. Renewable energy
Europe is in the midst of a dramatic energy transition, away from fossil fuels, and in some cases also from nuclear power, to renewable
energy. Bioenergy is the major renewable energy source, accounting for almost 70 percent of European renewables, and showing steady
growth.

12. Primary energy production, gross electricity consumption and heat consumption
from solid biomass in the European Union in 2011
Source: EuroObserver 2012

13. European support to development of joint management of
PROJECT OUTCOMES
 Five sector handbooks on investment requirements
natural resources – best practices.
CONSORTIUM (criteria considered by companies as important in
1. European Biomass Association, Belgium decision making process for cross-border
2. Austrian Biomass Association, Austria investments) for the sectors: biogas, small scale
3. Danish Bioenergy Association, Denmark heating, district heating, CHP and biofuels for
4. The Bioenergy Association of Finland transportation
5. German BioEnergy Association
6. Hungarian Biomass Competence Center  A comprehensive online database tool including a
7. Italian Agriforestry Energy Association Geographic Information System (GIS). Market
8. Latvian Bioenergy Association attractiveness appears in a comprehensive way as
9. Slovak Bioenergy Association well as framework conditions for investments and
10. Swedish Bioenergy Association project cooperation in EU cross-border areas. Also
11. Imperial College for Science, a B2B platform creates enabling easy access to
Medicine and Technology, UK international project partners.

14. European support to development of joint management of
The Cross Border Bioenergy project
natural resources – best practices.
…. practice-oriented criteria for the assessment of the market attractiveness for
different bioenergy sectors which are elaborated in close collaboration with related industry
representatives.
…… is addressed to five market sectors:
 Biogas for CHP and biomethane processing
 Small-scale heat for private houses and single heat customers
 Commercial biomass boilers for district heating
 Solid biomass CHP technologies
 Biofuels for transportation (biodiesel, bioethanol)
…… supports the bioenergy industry in going international to diversity its sales
markets;
….. is prepared by consortium of bioenergy associations, consultants and scientists
gathered to provide a platform for European bioenergy businesses aiming at supporting their
international activities.

15. Solar and wind energy
LONDON ARRAY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra6sogF4lLE

16. Sweden Biogas fuel station in Västerås
„Amanda” – biogas powered train in Lingoping
CBiogasGas buses in Helsingborg
Germany
Norway
Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL-Hybrid
Electric cars

17. Kętrzyn Municipality is implementing a project entitled "Energy-efficient resource management -
common models for small towns on the example of Ketrzyn and Svetly " co-financed by action -
1.1. Sustainable use of environment ENPI CBC Programme Lithuania - Poland - Russia 2007-2013.
The project partner is the Regional Administration of the City of Svetly Russian Federation (Kaliningrad).
The project beneficiary and partner together will develop models for reducing energy consumption in municipal
buildings and public buildings that can be used in small towns in the area covered by the program.
The activities of the project are planed for 24 months, the grant amount is 90% of the project - 787,635.00 Euro.
The main objective of the project is to promote energy efficiency involving the reduction of energy consumption. This
will be achieved through the implementation of exemplary solutions for local governments, taking into account the
examples developed in Kętrzyn and Svetlym.
The project will also include training in order to increase awareness and skills of employees of the Kętrzyn Municipality
and the District Administration Svetly City.

18. Renewable energy
Renewable sources of energy- method of improving the quality of
natural environment within the area of the Lubaczów District and
Javoriv Region
The tasks covered by the Polish partner include: purchase of the equipment
used for biomass acquisition from the district roadsides farm tractor with the
additional equipment, compatible with the tractor e.g. pallet forklift.
The tasks covered by the Ukrainian partner include: solar installation
implementation to produce thermal energy for the laundry and kitchen in
the Novojavorivsk hospital. Solar collectors of active area- 253 m2 will be able
to produce 619,34 GJ annually.
The Project implementation will provide for the reduction of non-renewable
fuel consumption as heat demand for Complex of Schools in Oleszyce and the
hospital in Novojavorivsk will partly be covered by the renewable fuels, e.g.
biomass and solar energy.

19. Water protection and management
Waste management
1. Extension of the cross-border sewage treatment system in drainage area of the river
Bug (Western)
2. Partnership for cross-border water protection in the area of Lithuanian, Polish and
Russian
3. Improvement of water quality of the Baltic Sea through the development of
Phase I i Phase II
4. BalticMasterII project

20. Priority 2. Improving the quality of life
The Priority 2 is focused on management of environmental threats and actions promoting sustainable economic use
of natural resources, development of renewable energy sources and energy saving, as well as increasing the
efficiency of border infrastructure and procedures and improving border security.
The priority 2 will include the following measures:
Measure 2.1. Natural environment protection in the borderland
Measure 2.2. Efficient and secure borders
Measure 2.1 aims at protecting and improve the quality of the natural environment. Improvement of the quality of the
natural environment contributes to increasing inhabitants’ living standards as well as boosting the area’s tourist and
investment attractiveness. This goal will be achieved mainly through investment in environmental infrastructure for
regional or local impact and the improvement of cross-border cooperation on environmental protection.
Measure 2.2 has the objective of increasing the efficiency of border infrastructure and procedures and to improve
border security. A higher throughput capacity at border crossing points and their security are critical for the
achievement of the programme’s objectives. In order to better utilise and expand the social and economic potential
within the programme area, it is necessary to alleviate the administrative, institutional and infrastructural obstacles to
the free movement of goods, services and people across borders.

21. The core objective of the programme is support for cross-border development
processes. The programme objectives will be realised through non-commercial
projects implemented within the following priorities and measures:
Priority 1.
Increasing competitiveness of the border area.
Priority 2.
Improving the quality of life
Priority 3.
Networking and people-to-people cooperation.
Total Programme budget: 202,9 million EUR
(including 186,2 million EUR of the EU co-financing.)

22. Project: Extension of the cross-border sewage treatment system in drainage area of
the river Bug (Western)
Lead Partner: #Town Commune of Hajnówka (Poland)
Partnership: #Poleski Agro-Ecological Institute of National Academy of Belarusian Sciences
(Belarus) and #Municipal Unitary Multiple Productive Enterprise of Communal-Housing
Economy „Kamienieckie ŻKCh” (Belarus)
Total budget: 3 970 198,88 €
Programme Contribution: 3 573 178,99 €
Duration: 24 months

23. The project area is situated in drainage area of the river Bug (Western) and
the Partner cities are connected with the river Leśna, which is receiver of
the sewage treatment products. So, there is a need of co-operation and co-
ordination of investment policies for maintaining or even increase of
cleanness level of river Leśna. The Project brings the reaction to problem of
incompatibility of sanitary infrastructure to real weight of pollution loads
and lack of integrated environment protection system in Polish – Belarusian
borderland.
Leśna River in Hajnówka
The key to change the Present situation will be
brought with strategic approach to sustainable
environment and protection infrastructure
management.
Co-ordination of investment policy, realization
of key cross-border projects, education
means, exchange of experiences, know – how
sharing and promotion of modern sustainable
management solutions will bring synergy and
real ecological benefits to whole borderland.
International Wastewater Treatment Plant, Source: http://www.coastlawgroup.com

24. Partnership for cross-border water protection
in the area of Lithuanian, Polish and Russian
In September 2012 Olecko Municipality signed an agreement on the financing of the "Partnership for
cross-border water protection in the area of Lithuanian, Polish and Russian, implemented within the
Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Lithuania-Poland-Russia 2007-2013.
Total budget: 3 667 580,00 EUR (14 670 320,00 PLN)
Cofinancing: 3 300 822,00 EUR (13 203 288,00 PLN)
Source: http://olecko.wm.pl

25. The sides of partnership are: #Poland: Regional authorities of Olecko, #Lithuania: Regional authorities of Kozlova
Rudy, #Russia: Regional authorities of Gusiev.
Implementation period of the project is planned for 24 months, the project will be completed in mid-2014.
The main results that will be achieved by the project are:
1. Reduction of the emission of liquid waste into rivers and lakes in the area of ​cross-border thanks to built sewerage
and water supply in the municipalities Olecko (Poland) and Kazlu Ruda (Lithuania), connected to a network
(Municipality Olecko) and sewage treatment plant (City Kazlu Ruda).
2. Creating the conditions for the implementation of environmental projects in the Russian partnership via development
of technical documentation and feasibility studies for works in Gusiev (Russia).
3. Promoting environmental attitudes and behavior among residents of the project area by developing a common
strategy for the protection of cross border waters and the organization of an international seminar titled "How to save
water" in Olecko (Poland), Kozlova Ruda (Lithuania) and Gusiev (Russia) for the residents of the three partner
countries.
Joint development, financing, management and implementation of the project with the Lithuanian partner and the Russian partner will help
strengthen mutual trust, providing a basis for further cooperation in a cross-border and improve conditions and living standards of the area covered
by the project activities.

26. The Baltic Sea pollution
Serious threat, particularly to the Baltic coast, the sea level rise.
So far the level raised by approximately 1,5-2,9 mm / year and it is estimated that by 2015 will rise from 0,1-0,97 m
In Poland, 1,789 km2 coastal areas could be flooded.
Endangered feature 18 resorts located on the cliffs undergoing erosion, five large ports and houses of 120,000 people.

27. Improvement of water quality of the Baltic Sea
through the development of
Phase I, October 2005 - June 2007
City of Gdynia together with five partners: Kosakowo, Reda, Rumia and Wejherowo communes together with Klaipeda
in Lithuania received funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the project .
The total cost of the project is 1.4 million EURO.
The main objective of the project is to reduce the amount of pollutants emitted with rainfall and snowmelt water to the
Baltic Sea from the south-eastern part of the Baltic Sea Region.
The main activities of the project include the development of the concept of the development of water management
systems and the preparation of all technical documentation of the Investment for each Partners which is crucial for
improving the water quality of the Baltic Sea.

28. Improvement of water quality of the Baltic Sea
through the development of
Phase II, January 2013 – December 2014
Programme: Lithuania-Poland-Russia CNB ENPI 2007-2013
Lead Partner: Klaipeda City Municipality Administration (Lithuania)
Partners: #Administration of the municipality Svetlogorskiy district (Russia), #State autonomous educational
institution of additional education of children "Kaliningrad Regional Children -Youth Centre for
Environment, #Local Lore and Tourism” (Ecological centre) (Russia)
Total budget:3 999 930.00 EUR
The overall objective of the project is to contribute to reduction of the quantity of contaminants from rain and
surface waters drained into the Baltic Sea from the south-eastern part of the Baltic Sea Region.

29. Improvement of water quality of the Baltic Sea
through the development of
Phase II, January 2013 – December 2014
Main estimated results of the project are as follows:
1. Rain and surface water treatment systems are constructed in Klaipeda (Lithuania).
2. Local sewage treatment engineer systems are constructed in the settlement Primorie of Svetlogorskiy district
municipality of the Kaliningrad region (Russia).
3. Feasibility study for construction of the international ecological camp in the settlement Primorie of Svetlogorskiy
district of the Kaliningrad region (Russia) is prepared.
4. Operation efficiency of water treatment systems and qualification of municipal officials in managing water
systems, both aiming to preserve water environment of the Baltic Sea, are raised.
5. The system of non-formal ecological education of children and youth is developed in the partner countries.
6. Awareness is raised and conditions are created for engaging local community in the process of counteracting
ecological problems and preventing contamination of the Baltic Sea waters.
7. Efforts of the territories of the western Lithuania and western part of the Kaliningrad region in solving the problems of
contamination of the Baltic Sea by rain and surface drainage waters are united through engagement of coastal
municipalities of the Kaliningrad region into the infrastructural cross-border cooperation network, which was
established during the project RAINNET 1.
8. Experience/skills of international project management teams of the partners are improved.

31. Baltic MasterII Project
Threats and remedies for the Baltic Sea
The Baltic Master II (Duration 25 January 2009 – 25 January 2012) addressed issues from the local and regional
perspective using cross-border and cross-sectoral collaboration in order to find viable hands-on solutions to global
problems.
This bottom-up approach is also a promising component for future efficient implementation of the EU Baltic Sea
Strategy.
Aim: The overall aim of Baltic Master II is to improve the on-land response capacity to oil spills in the Baltic Sea as
well as to enhance the prevention of pollution from maritime transport.
The project brings together actors from a wide range of levels going from local, regional and national authorities to
research institutes, universities and pan-Baltic organisations. Providing a link between the local/regional level and the
national level is an important task of the project in order to combine hands-on knowledge with strategic work.
Baltic Master II also puts a significant effort in developing practical solutions to environmental safety problems in the
Baltic Sea. Oil contingency plans in coastal regions and common ways of treating ship generated waste are two
examples which will be further investigated.
Lead Partner: Region Blekinge, Sweden
Partnership 48 partners from 9 different countries
around the Baltic Sea.
Budget Approx 4 million Euro.

32. Project „Optimisation of the role of the forest in the protection of water courses and
humid zones” – part of Interreg IIIA

33. „Europe 2020 is the EU's growth strategy for the coming decade.
In a changing world, we want the EU to become a smart, sustainable and inclusive
economy. These three mutually reinforcing priorities should help the EU and the Member
States deliver high levels of employment, productivity and social cohesion.
Concretely, the Union has set five ambitious objectives - on
employment, innovation, education, social inclusion and climate/energy - to be reached by
2020. Each Member State has adopted its own national targets in each of these areas.
Concrete actions at EU and national levels underpin the strategy.”
José Manuel Barroso
President of the European Commission

34. 1) Smart growth: developing an economy based on knowledge and
innovation
2) Sustainable growth: promoting a more efficient, greener and
more competitive economy
3) Inclusive growth: fostering a high-employment economy
delivering social and territorial cohesion
34
34

36. Good luck in cross-border co-operation!
Thank you for your attention.
Ewa Kochaoska
RIC Pro-Akademia
Bioenergy for the Region Cluster