Croatian Council for Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection (SORZO)

Savjet za održivi razvoj i zaštitu okoliša 

Savjet za održivi razvoj i zaštitu okoliša (SORZO) c/o Ministry of Environmental Protection, Physical Planning and Construction Ulica Republike Austrije 14  HR-10000 Zagreb Hrvatska (Croatia) Tel. +385 1 3717 130 Fax +385 1 3717 149 nikolina.petkovic@mzopu.hr

Current and Future Activities

Establishment and Mission

Council Members and Staff Members

Working Style 

Current and Future Activities

Present Priority Fields 2009 - 2010

• Proposals for the development and/or revision of relevant legal instruments
• Positions on any major issues relating to environmental protection and other documents relevant to the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the EU; 
• Strategy for Sustainable Development of the Republic of Croatia (adopted by the Croatian Parliament on 20 February 2009); 
• Protection of the atmospheric, land, aquatic and marine environments; 
• Global warming, climate change and ozone layer protection; 
• Coastal and marine resource management;
• Nature preservation
• Waste management
• Sustainable development and education;
• Renewable energy sources;
• Rural management;

Special activities in 2009

• National Report of the Republic of Croatia on the Implementation of the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols (2006-2007), presentation and discussion (January 2009); 
• Enhancement of the influence of SORZO on the sustainable development and environmental protection in Croatia, discussion and recommendations (March 2009); 
• Rules of Procedure for SORZO, preparation and adoption (January-May 2009); 
• Programme of Work of SORZO, preparation and adoption (January-May 2009); 
• Organisation of the EEAC Annual Conference 2009 (Dubrovnik, 23 October 2009), organisation (January-October 2009); 
• EEAC special event "Environmental Risks of Oil and Gas Transport by Tankers in the Adriatic and Management Solutions (Dubrovnik, 22 October 2009), organisation (January-October 2009); 
• Environmental Labelling, discussion and recommendations (April-May 2009); 
• Action plans for the implementation of the Strategy for Sustainable Development of the Republic of Croatia, discussion and recommendations (June 2009). 

Besides these topics, the SORZO will keep on working on different aspects of the present priorities.

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Background and Mission

Establishment

Pursuant to the Environmental Protection Act (Official Gazette 110/2007), the Government of the Republic of Croatia, at its session held on 17 July 2008, adopted a Decision on the appointment of the president and members of the Croatian Council for Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection (SORZO). 

SORZO replaced the Croatian Council for Environmental Protection that was established by a decree of the Prime Minister in May 2004.

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Mission

The Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection Council was established for the purpose of achieving coordinated and harmonized economic development in the context of environmental protection and ensuring conditions for sustainable development, as well as for the continuity of the professional and scientific basis for the regulation of certain issues in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development. 

SORZO is requested to express opinions, make proposals for additions and changes and assess documents dealing with all aspects of environmental protection, as specified by the Environmental Protection Act, prior to their submission for approval to the Government and Parliament. In 2008, the scope of the Council was widened to include also sustainable development issues.

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Council Members

The SORZO has nine Council Members, three from civil society/NGOs and six experts from different fields of relevance. Members are not subject to a fixed term of appointment.

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Staff Members

The SORZO has an appointed administrative secretary but no other managerial or administrative staff. SORZO will avail itself to the administrative and financial facilities of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Physical Planning and Construction.

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Work Style

Tasks of the council

All aspects in the domain of protection of the environment and sustainable development.

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Substructure and working groups

The working groups comprise experts from many disciplines: natural sciences, sociology, economics and technology.

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Type of Advice

Opinions, comments and advice are expected to be delivered as unanimous recommendations adopted by SORZO.

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Council Meetings

The SORZO operates in sessions in a responsive, supervisory mode and does not (directly) initiate action. Conduct of the SORZO meetings are regulated by the Rules of Procedure. On average, 10 to 12 sessions are planned per year. The State Secretary for the Protection of the Environment is expected to attend SORZO sessions. 

Outside these sessions, work involves not only the appointed members because SORZO is entitled to form temporary expert working groups for specific tasks. All decisions have to be reached in plenary sessions. Part of the work and discussions are conducted by e-mail.

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Activities in the EEAC Network

The SORZO joined the EEAC network in 2005. It is an active member of the Working Group Marine and an observer to Working Group Sustainable Development.

The SORZO is hosting the EEAC Annual Conference 2009, European Infrastructure for Europe, in Dubrovnik.

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Last updated on 10 June 2009