European Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils | Bodies

In 2011 the Minaraad will concentrate on 5 topics, which encompass all the priorities for the year to come:

Background and Mission

Establishment

The former Minaraad existed from 1991 until May 31st, 2009. Since June 1st, 2009. This advisory council was upgraded to a Strategic Advisory Council for Environment and Nature ("SAR Minaraad").

Mission

The SAR 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 central remit of the SAR Minaraad is to deliver advices. The Council is also considered to follow and interpret the social trends and policy developments that are relevant for the environment as well as the environmental aspects of sustainable development at the different levels and in different policy areas.

Council Members

The SAR Minaraad has 18 council members representing the stakeholders: the environmental and nature conservation NGOs in Flanders, social-economic associations, countryside associations, socio-cultural associations (consumers and families). Two members represent the local governments and finally, the Council has four independent environmental policy experts. All 24 council members are appointed for four years.

Chair: Mr. Marc Van den Bosch	VOKA, Flemish Economic Association
Members
Environmental NGOs
Sara Van Dyck	BBL, Environmental Association
Linn Dumez	BBL, Environmental Association
Jan Turf	BBL, Environmental Association Member of the FRDO-CFDD
Erik Grietens	BBL, Environmental Association
Nathalie de Snijder	Natuurpunt, Nature Conservation Association
Wim van Gils	Natuurpunt, Nature Conservation Association
Liesbeth Van Laer Walter Roggeman	Natuurpunt, Nature Conservation Association Natuurpunt, Nature Conservation Association
Social Economic Organisations
Piet Vanden Abeele	UNIZO, Organisation for the Self-Employed and SMEs Member of the FRDO-CFDD

Iris Penninckx	Boerenbond, Farmers Association
Bert De Wel	ACV, Christian Trade Union
Peter Bostyn	ABVV, Socialist Trade Union
Suzanne Kwanten	ACLVB, Liberal Trade Union
Organisations related to the open spaces
Philippe Casier	Landelijk Vlaanderen, Forest- & Landowners Association
Yves Lecocq	Hubertus Vereniging Vlaanderen, Hunters Association
Socio-Cultural Organisations
Arnold Vanheule	Gezinsbond, Families Association
Ilse Janssens	Pasar, Recreation Association
Organisations of Flemish provinces, cities and municipalities
Peter Gorlé	VVP, Provinces Association
Steven Verbank	VVSG, Cities & Municipalities Association
Independent environmental experts
Isabelle Larmuseau	(environmental lawyer)
Marc De Pauw	(specialist IPPC and EIS)
Marc De Clercq	(professor economics at University of Ghent)
Koen Cuypers	(specialist biology)

Staff Members

The SAR Minaraad has a secretariat which counts 12 staff-members. Jan Verheeke is the Secretary General.

Work Style

Tasks of the Council

The SAR Minaraad is a stakeholders council, not a scientific institute. It is however expected that the Council, in executing its assignments, relies on the most adequate information it can get. It is therefore evident that the Council looks for relevant scientific data. 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 staff members consists in the organized communication between environmental movement, scientists, socio-cultural and socio-economic partners and countryside associations 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 an Executive Board (i.e. steering committee), which consists of the chairman, three members of the environmental NGOs, two of the social-economic partners, one of the farmer associations, one of the countryside associations council and the secretary of the Secretariat. They set the agenda of the board meetings and monitor the processes within the subcommittees, working committees and permanent working committees. The Executive Board mandates the Secretariat, takes the key organizational decisions and directs the staff and budget policy. They meet at least ten times a year and decide, contrary to the Council, unanimously.

The preparation of draft opinions and the follow up of policy issues happens inside working committees. They are led by a working committee chair which is appointed by the Council. The working committees are composed of councillors, alternate councillors and their designated experts. Each working committee shall be assisted by at least one member of the secretariat. The working committees are the motor of the council activities.

The SAR Minaraad also has six permanent working committees (PWCs) for policy on nature, forestry, hunting, inland fisheries, environmental education and sustainable development. Like the ordinary working committees, the PWCs prepare draft recommendations, but the number of members per committee is limited to 16 persons appointed by the Flemish Government. Half of the committee shall be appointed by the Flemish Government on the basis of their specific expertise and because of their special representativeness for the topic being discussed within the PWC. The other half is appointed by the Flemish Government on the recommendation of the SAR Minaraad. The Council delegates the preparation of advisory topics to the permanent working committees.

Council Meetings

The Council meets at least ten times a year, in principle the last Thursday of each month, except in the month of July. The sessions take about half a day.

Type of Advice

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.

Through 1999 and 2000, and from 2009 to 2010, Hubert David - the former chairman of the Minaraad - chaired the EEAC Steering Committee.

As of 2011, the Steering Committee again has a representative of the Minaraad: Secretary General Jan Verheeke who was elected vice-chair.

List of Selected Publications

You can search for the full list of policy advice in our Search Engine which also includes the titles in English of publications available in original language only.
A list with publications from the year 2001-2009 can be consulted on the archived pages.

Environment and Nature Council of Flanders

Strategische Adviesraad "Milieu- en Natuurraad van Vlaanderen" (SAR Minaraad)

Current and Future Activities

Present and Future Priority Fields