Hungary - Environment

Short-term priorities:

• continue transposition of the framework legislation;
• development of detailed approximation programmes and implementation strategies related to individual acts;
• planning and commencement of implementation of these programmes and strategies.

Assessment (October 1999)

These priorities have been partially met.

Progress has been made on bringing Hungary's legislation into line with the acquis on nature protection, pollution from industrial plants and large combustion plants as well as the control of major accidents. By contrast, progress has been slow on waste, waste management and water and air quality.

Assessment (November 2000)

Alignment with the Directive concerning integrated pollution prevention and control did not take place. A little progress was achieved with alignment in the area of nuclear safety and radiation protection. In June 2000 the law on waste management was adopted. Hungary's legislation was also aligned with the Directive concerning environment impact assessment, although more efforts are required in order to apply it.

Assessment (November 2001)

Progress has been made on environmental impact assessment. The areas of waste management, handling of batteries and accumulators, and disposal of waste oils and PCBs/PCTs have been aligned with the acquis. The directive on major accident hazards involving dangerous substances has been transposed.

Assessment (October 2002)

The acquis relating to packaging and packaging waste has been transposed.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Medium-term priorities:

• development of monitoring structures and capacity;
• continuous planning and implementation of approximation programmes related to individual legal acts;
• particular emphasis should be given to waste water management, waste management and air pollution;
• adoption of measures on integrated industrial pollution control;
• integration of environmental protection requirements and sustainable development into the definition and implementation of national, sectoral policies.

Assessment (October 1999)

Hungary has made little progress in these fields, despite the ambitious target set in its harmonisation programme of full transposition in 2001. It therefore urgently needs to speed up both alignment of its legislation and investment in environmental technology and infrastructure. In this context it is important that the budgetary provisions made in the NPAA are also properly reflected in the annual budget.

Assessment (November 2000)

There was no progress with this priority.

Assessment (November 2001)

The national environment plan has been revised to add integration of the environment into other policies to its priorities. Progress has been made on the protection of wild birds and other protected species. A national programme has been drawn up for implementation of the legislation on water quality. The Community legislation on nitrates pollution from agricultural sources has been fully transposed. A new information system on noise has been set up. Progress has been made with transposition in the fields of chemicals and GMOs, nuclear safety and radiation protection, and air quality.

Assessment (October 2002)

Implementation of the acquis has continued in relation to air quality, and industrial pollution control and risk management. Failure to adopt the National Waste Management Plan has meant no progress in that area. The administrative capacity of the environmental inspectorates has been stepped up, though further efforts are required. The human resources of the competent authorities in the chemicals sector have been increased. The integration of environmental protection requirements into the formulation and implementation of all other sectoral policies has continued.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Following the signing of the Accession Treaty on 16 April 2003, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia acceded to the European Union on 1 May 2004.

REFERENCES

Decision 99/850/EC of 06 12.1999Official Journal L 335 of 28.12.1999

Commission opinion COM(97) 2001 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Report from the Commission COM(98) 700 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Report from the Commission COM(1999) 505 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Report from the Commission COM(2000) 705 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Report from the Commission COM(2001) 700 final - SEC (2001) 1748Not published in the Official Journal

Report from the Commission COM(2002) 700 final - SEC(2002) 1404Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2003) 675 final - SEC(2003) 1205Not published in the Official Journal

Treaty of Accession to the European Union [Official Journal L 236, 23.09.2003]

Last updated: 19.11.2004