European Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils | Bodies

The Minaraad is in existence since 8 November, 1991. It was installed by the former Minister of Environment and Nature Conservation of the Flemish Government, Theo Kelchtermans. The legislative basis of the Council is a decree of the Flemish Parliament, approved on 29 April, 1991. The Minaraad is currently “under reconstruction”.

Mission

The Minaraad has a general competence to study, recommend or advise on all matters concerning the environmental or nature conservation policy in Flanders. The Council can act on its own initiative or on demand of the Flemish Government or the Flemish Parliament.

The decree of the 29 April, 1991, prescribes that the Flemish Government asks the Minaraad for advice on every legislative project concerning the action-field of the council. The annual budget-bills however, are no part of this obligation. The Flemish Government is also held to seek the Council's advice on the main lines of the policy to be pursued, including the corresponding general budget-policy. Finally, the Minaraad advices with regard to the policy on subsidies of the environmental movement.

When issues are taken up upon own initiative, they take generally 2 to 6 months; when advice are requested, the time given to the Minaraad is 10 working days to 2 months (generally 1 month).

Council Members

The Minaraad has 31 Council Members (24 with voting right) representing the environmental and nature conservation organisations in Flanders; forestry, hunting, inland fisheries and nature protection; socio-economic organisations: employers organisations and trade unions, scientific experts and local and provincial governments. The term for the current Council Members expires by the end of 2007, but it has been extended.

Chairman Hubert David	EURIMA
Vice-Chairwoman Monique Sys	Institute for Environment, University of Antwerp
Members
Environmental NGOs
Bram Claeys	Bond Beter Leefmilieu, BBL
August Feyen	Bond Beter Leefmilieu, BBL
Erik Grietens	Bond Beter Leefmilieu, BBL
Jos Gysels	Natuurpunt
Valérie Kochuyt	Natuurpunt
Iris Lauwaert	Natuurpunt
Ilse Smitz	Bond Beter Leefmilieu, BBL
Jan Turf	Bond Beter Leefmilieu, BBL Member of the FRDO-CFDD
Steven Vanholme	Natuurpunt
Liesbeth Van Laer	Natuurpunt
Guido Van Steenbergen	Natuurpunt
Julie Vinson	Bond Beter Leefmilieu, BBL
Organisations represented in the SERV
Fons Beyers	Farmers Association, Boerenbond
Peter Bostyn	ABVV
Katleen Mariën	Flemish Economic Association, VOKA
Piet Vanden Abeele	Organisation for the Self-Employed and SMEs, UNIZO Member of the FRDO-CFDD
Ellen Van Hertbruggen	Liberal Trade Union, ACLVB
Tom Willems	Christian Trade Union, ACV
Green Councils
Jan Claes	Flemish Council on Hunting
Walter Roggeman	Flemish Council on Nature Conservation
Gudrun Van Langenhove	Flemish Council on Forestry
Rudi Yseboodt	Flemish Council on Fisheries
Organisations of Flemish provinces, cities and municipalities
Peter Gorlé	VVP
Alex Verhoeven	VVSG
Flemish Science Policy Council
Hans Bruyninckx	Flemish Science Policy Council, VRWB
Ilse Loots	Flemish Science Policy Council, VRWB
Marc Verloo	Flemish Science Policy Council, VRWB
Chris Vinckier	Flemish Science Policy Council, VRWB
Micheline Volders	Flemish Science Policy Council, VRWB

Staff Members

The Minaraad has a secretariat with around 12 staff. Dirk Uyttendaele is the Deputy Director/Temporary Director.

Work Style

Tasks of the Council

The Minaraad is not a scientific institute. It is however expected that the Council, in executing his assignments, relies on the most adequate information it can get. It is therefore evident that the Council looks for relevant scientific data to base its advice or recommendations on. In this sense, results of scientific research are indispensable for the Council to carry out its formal and social tasks.

The main responsibility of the Minaraad consists in the organized communication between environmental movement, scientists and socio-economic partners concerning these environmental policy matters.

The Council is to seek consensus between the partners that are involved. The negotiation processes before the council meeting are an important part of the task. If (and/or if no) consensus is reached, it should be registered in the advice, with the maximum of clarity and the exposition of all relevant arguments that can be introduced in the matter that is being discussed.

Substructure and Working Groups

There is a "Bureau" (i.e. steering committee), which consists of the chairman, vice-chairman, four members of the council and the director of the secretariat. The Bureau makes the agenda of the plenary, does the follow-up of the working groups, authorises the secretariat and takes the most important organisational decisions. The Bureau comes together at least ten times in a year.

To prepare advice or to follow up policy matters that are important for the Council, the Minaraad can install working groups. These are the engines of the council activities. They incorporate the consultation processes as we can expect from an advisory body. The working groups consist of members of the council, substitute members of the council and eventually appointed experts. The council plenary appoints the working group chairman. Every working group is assisted by at less one member of the secretariat.

Apart from those, there are also some other Working Groups that are established ad hoc.

Council Meetings

The Council meets in principle once per month, the date is fixed in line with the political agenda.

The council picks its issues and gives advise on own initiative (1/3) and on request of government (2/3).

Type of Advice

The Flemish Government is obliged to ask the Minaraad for advice on every legislative project concerning the action-field of the council: environment in the broad sense of the word.

The Minaraad selects the issues it gives advice on, both on own initiative and on request of the government.

Activities in the EEAC Network

Minaraad was involved in the early years of the network and became member when membership was introduced in 1997.

Since March 2005 the Minaraad hosts the EEAC Office in its premises in Brussels.

Environment and Nature Council of Flanders (Minaraad)

Milieu- en Natuurraad van Vlaanderen

Current and Future Activities

Present and Future Priority Fields

Background and Mission

Establishment