Presentation
The Council for Environmental Protection (short CEPRS) was founded on 30 November 1993 by the Parliament of the Republic of Slovenia in accordance with the 90th article of the Law on Environmental Protection. The Council was constituted during its first session on 23 May 1994. Its duties are defined in the 91st article of the Law on Environmental Protection, and are: the Council should monitor the quality and the protection of the environment in Slovenia, assure the connection and inclusion of Slovenia in global environmental actions elsewhere, and influence the events in Slovenia through its statements, recommendations and suggestions.
The public must be informed about the estimations of environmental conditions, national environmental policies, reconciliation of Slovenia's developmental interests with environmental protection, environmental regulations, and other issues that are connected with environmental protection.
The members of Council for Environmental Protection, RS (CEPRS) are all experts and researchers in various fields of science, which enables comprehensive estimations of phenomena and conditions of the environment - from the viewpoint of protection of national natural wealth and its sustainable management. The Council has standing orders, office space, and other amenities that enable intensive work on the aforementioned issues.
The Council for Environmental Protection operates professionally and independently; it is neither a governmental nor an executive agency, but it can lead discussions with these agencies or project councils and other institutions. It expects constructive co-operation from everybody involved in environmental issues. The views and evaluations given by the Council can only be of a professional nature; political evaluations and decisions are the responsibility of the Parliament and other political bodies. The Council, however, does not retreat from the estimations of social interest in, and influences on the environment; we are well aware of the fact that we as a people have burdened and changed the environment to fulfil our needs and interests.
The Council's primary concern is nature, but because everybody affects it to a certain extent and everybody is responsible for the condition of environment, the Council also concerns itself with the management of environment and human lives. Industry and urbanisation affect the environment; many products and by-products are harmful to people and nature. Therefore, environmental polices are an important part of developmental decision making and strategy; at issue is not only environmental protection, but also the management of natural goods and the provision of healthy living conditions.
The Council takes into account that environmental problems are not limited to local communities or even single countries; therefore, the Council is attentive to European and global environmental actions and scientific findings. Concern for environment, which can be seen from the emphasis on the quality and development of environmentally favourable technologies, is more and more evident in international trade and co-operation. It is an important part of peace efforts and the efforts for the harmonic development in the world.
The Council EP RS always invites different experts and non-governmental representatives from the fields that are placed on the agenda to attend its meetings and contribute to discussions. It wants to allow easy public access to information. The statements, opinions and recommendations of the Council are intended for anybody who is personally or professionally responsible for environmental conditions or is affected by them.
The Council for Environmental Protection wants to emphasise its conviction that developmental, economical and environmental polices can be reconciled and can support each other. Progress has to be made in this field; tax, research, educational, health, social, agricultural, traffic and other policies and laws must be improved, and their enforcement needs to be ensured. It is not necessary to make special efforts to prove that the reconciliation of aforementioned policies is useful to common goals and economical development. Logically, common interests have precedence over individual interests, because the criteria of what is harmful or illegal exist. We must take into account the rights assured by laws, because we want to live in a lawful state. Environmental issues also have economical and social components.