Prague Congress 2008: Mission Statement

Over the years, PRO EUROPE congresses have become awaited meeting platforms for all stakeholders to reflect on achievements, voice new strategies and debate current EU policy on packaging and waste management as well as environmental issues at large. Building on the success of the three previous Congresses, PRO EUROPE will hold its 4th International Congress on 15-16 May 2008. Prague will be the host for the first PRO EUROPE Congress taking place in Eastern Europe. The event will be entitled “Green Dot 2008: From Waste to Resource Management”. As in previous Congresses, the Youth Eco-Parliament (YEP), an environmental and educational programme involving young people in strategic debates on environment and sustainability, will take place in parallel to the Prague Congress for the third year running.

Key conclusions from past Congresses (Madrid 2001, Berlin 2004 and Paris 2006):

There is a need to strengthen recycling markets and step up international co-operation.
Environmental citizenship and encouraging people to adopt good environmental habits in their daily lives is crucial to the long term success of environmental policy
Co-operation and communication between all stakeholders such as policy, industry, and society are needed on the path towards a successful sustainable future.
Citizens of Europe should take up their responsibility and recycle household waste as part of their commitment to the environment and a sustainable future.

Outcome of the 1st and 2nd Youth Eco-Parliament (YEP)

A White Paper on the environment containing resolutions and proposals for action on air, water, waste, energy and food collaboratively. Drafted by hundreds of young people in 2004-2005, the White Paper was personally presented to EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas and to the former European Parliament President Josep Borrell.
7 Open Letters for the environment addressed to influential representatives from civil society (i.e. producers, politicians and civil servants, researchers and scientists, educators, journalists, NGOs and international organisations). Involving more than 3,600 students from 14 countries, the 2nd YEP was invited to contribute to the European Commission Green Week 2007.

Mandate of the 2008 Congress

“Green Dot 2008: From Waste to Resource Management” reflects the shift in environmental policy from "end of the pipe" solutions towards an integrated approach aimed at preventing environmental impact throughout products' life cycle, and a more sustainable management of natural resources. This 4th edition of the Congress aims at showcasing the role of PRO EUROPE and its members as socially and environmentally responsible actors playing a role in helping achieve EU environment policy goals. The Congress will look into PRO EUROPE’s strategy and commitments on:

Bringing the producer responsibility principle to life.
Raising regulatory compliance issues in view of achieving environmental improvements.
Facilitating international transfer of best practices in the field of waste management, sustainability and education.
Encouraging sustainable consumption and production amongst industry, society, and policy.
Promoting environmental citizenship through education programmes such as the 3rd edition of the Youth Eco-Parliament.
Current and future trends in EU environment policy that will shape the framework within which the Green Dot schemes operate.

Youth Eco-Parliament and UN Decade of Education for Sustainability

Throughout 2007-2008, the 3rd Youth Eco-Parliament will gather motivated young people from previous editions to contribute to the objectives of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD). Their tasks consist of assessing best environmental practices in their respective local communities which will be delivered in the form of a report. The Prague Congress will be an opportunity to hold a ceremony presenting the YEP’s achievements, prior to being submitted to UN representatives who will use YEP’s input for the UN-DESD bi-annual report.

Main Themes of the 2008 Prague Congress

This 4th International Congress will focus primarily on the subject of resource management and environmental responsibility with input from all relevant stakeholders. The following themes will be addressed:

Green Dot and the EU policy environment: examining the current legislative trends concerning the waste field such as the emphasis on prevention or sustainable consumption and production.
From waste to resource management: underlining the role PRO EUROPE and its members play towards a better use of natural resources as well as highlighting the policy shift from an emphasis on regulating waste streams towards broader sustainable use of natural resources.
Producer responsibility schemes and their contribution to sustainable development and their successful extension/transposition to other waste streams.
Sustainable development and the role of new packaging and recycling technologies.

Structure of the Congress

The two-day Congress will see a mix of 3 high-level roundtables and 4 workshops, facilitating a forward-looking debate as well as technical knowledge sharing. On the one hand, the roundtables will provide an overall platform for discussion on current trends influencing the policy and business agenda while on the other hand, the workshops will allow more technical exchange of views and experiences. The four workshops would be held in parallel by two groups of two. This will allow each participant to make its own tailored programme by picking up workshops a la carte depending on its particular interest. Keynote speakers will introduce the roundtable discussions and trigger the debate while moderators will support the interaction among the speakers.

Desired Outcome

To debate current and upcoming drivers shaping the producer responsibility schemes' policy environment and address future new topics such as sustainable production and consumption and the link between recycling and climate change.
To offer the opportunity for policy-makers to be confronted with the challenges posed by the practical implementation of the legislation at the local level in the context of multi-stakeholder platforms involving local authorities, industry and NGOs.
To provide a forum for discussion and technical exchanges of experiences for PRO EUROPE´s stakeholders and external experts.
To examine the specific matters arising from the implementation of EU waste legislation in the new Member States.
To provide a platform for the international exchange of best practice and showcase global policy trends on waste and resource management.