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 28/05/2008

EMASeasy capacity building in its third round

Since 2005, the European Commission has supported the outreach of EMASeasy in the Member States. EMASeasy is a lightly documented and innovative approach to the implementation of the EMAS regulation in micro, small and medium sized enterprises.

A first capacity building programme was organised in five new Member States in 2005. This programme was designed to build capacity within the environmental consulting and auditing community. A group of experts and consultants in each of the selected Member States was coached on the EMASeasy and Ecomapping methodology. Using the ‘train the trainer’ approach, they have been spreading a simple and efficient way of applying this approach to the EMAS Scheme.

This project was completed and successfully demonstrated that it is perfectly possible to implement EMAS in very small organisations and to create an effective engagement of these types of organisations in implementing EMAS. In view of these results, the Directorate General Environment decided to extend the experience gained with the pilot project to all EU Member States. In 2007, an EMASeasy capacity building programme was carried out in Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Cyprus, Malta and Greece. Some of the consultants that were trained in these countries will be invited to present their experiences in a conference in Toulouse during the EnviroSud Fair on the 7th of March 2008.

Meanwhile, success has already been achieved in two companies in Cyprus. Nicos Menicos of Podium Engineering said: « EMASeasy? It is easy, clear and implemental methodology without any particular financial burden on a small enterprise ».

In the case of Soroka Fuels Ltd, an enterprise with 23 fuel tanker trucks, EMASeasy assisted the upgrade of the company’s fleet from Euro 3 to Euro 5 emission specification engines. This meant fuel efficiency while less climate change emissions. German verifier Dr. Kühnemann said: “It is a great pleasure for me to meet people who work on environmental affairs in a really professional and forward looking way”.

This year there will be an EMASeasy capacity building programme carried out in Ireland, UK, Germany, Belgium, Finland, Czech Republic and Slovenia.