[ Description | Projects | Links ]
Introduction
The EU's co-operation programme (that is to say its funding of assistance projects in China) reflects the great changes underway there and the EU's determination to support those changes.
The European Union's key aims are to support the country's sustainable economic growth and development, to integrate China further into the international community and to promote the rule of law. The overall approach is one of constructive engagement on the ground and co-operation with the Chinese authorities and with Chinese society. This marks a major change from the past. Before 1995, most EU co-operation resources were concentrated on traditional development initiatives, notably in the rural sector.
The Environment
China's size, its population and its rapid economic growth make the need for sound environmental standards all the more pressing. The manner in which China attains western levels of food and energy consumption will have important consequences for the global environment. China's total energy consumption, for example, is already second only to that of the United States, and it is the second largest emitter of CO2 pollution from industry.
The EU has co-operated with China over the environment since the early eighties. It is now focusing on clean production methods, waste minimisation, environmental standards and training, and environmental management capacities as well as appropriate technology transfer. The EU intends to help further China integrate environmental priorities - such as curbing industrial pollution and greenhouse gases, and the conservation of biological diversity - into national and regional policy-making and its development schemes.
The EU has financed a range of projects directed towards the improvement of the rural economy in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner. While some of the projects are restricted in their geographical scope, they are all designed as demonstration projects, the lessons from which can be replicated elsewhere in China.
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Cleaner Production Component in China-EU Liaoning Integrated Environmental Programme
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Environmental Management Cooperation Programme -- http://www.acca21.org.cn/emcp/en/index.htm and http://www.delchn.cec.eu.int/en/Co-operation/enviroment_management.htm -- one of the most prominent projects funded by the European Commission in the environment field in China, designed to help increase the impact of the Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21 and other institutions on the development of environmental planning and management in China in order to increase the awareness on Sustainable Development.
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Vehicle Emission Control Project -- http://www.delchn.cec.eu.int/en/Co-operation/vehicle_emission.htm -- Beijing
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Capacity Building for Municipal Solid Waste Management Reform -- http://www.delchn.cec.eu.int/en/Co-operation/capacity_building.htm -- Cities of Mianyang and Zhang Zhou
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Natural Forest Management Project -- http://www.delchn.cec.eu.int/en/Co-operation/Natural_Forest.htm -- Hainan, Hunan and Sichuan provinces
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Energy / Environment Programme -- http://www.delchn.cec.eu.int/en/Co-operation/energy_environment.htm -- throughout China
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Water Buffalo Development -- http://www.delchn.cec.eu.int/en/Co-operation/Water_Buffalo.htm -- various provinces
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European Union Home Page: http://europa.eu.int/index-en.htm
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EU-China Co-operation Projects -- http://www.delchn.cec.eu.int/en/Co-operation/Project_Fiches.htm - list includes environmental projects
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EU-Funded Projects in China -- http://www.delchn.cec.eu.int -- Delegation of the European Commission, detail on all areas of cooperation
ŠNDRC 2000-2006