Following on the heels of the liberalisation of the telephone, electricity and gas industries, there is intensive talk of the liberalisation of the water supply, too. According to economic theory, greater competitive pressure is supposed to induce innovations and to lower expenses, bring fresh capital into the industry and help consumers by providing a better, cheaper supply. But unfortunately this is generally not the case in a "real" liberalisation, which involves such other factors as competition to win end customers or competition "on the market", in which case the discussion concentrates more on the competition "for the market" between suppliers of operator services.

Carius, Alexander; Ingmar von Homeyer; Stefani Bär and R. Andreas Kraemer 2000: Die umweltpolitische Dimension der Osterweiterung der Europäischen Union. [Materialien zur Umweltforschung 34]. Stuttgart: Metzler-Poeschel.

Piotrowski, Ralph; Clare Coffey; Christian von Dorrien et. al. 2000: Fisheries and the Environment: Outline of Research. Berlin.

The strain placed on the environment by the tourism industry has grown drastically from year to year. At the same time, however, efforts have also been increasing at national and international levels to reduce this negative impact. In view of the significance of cross-border tourism, such efforts can only be successful within the framework of international co-operation.

"Trade and Environmental Protection" represents a cross-cutting issue area that must be simultaneously handled at different political levels. This book describes and analyses the institutional structures that are necessary for addressing trade and environment issues and indentifies integration strategies. In addition to being relevant to international policy-making, the topic covered in this book also reflects an area of special interest and activity at Ecologic.

Eichstädt, Tilman; Walter Kahlenborn 2000: Technology and Environmental Policy. Packaging Waste: German Case Study. Final report for TEP project. European Commission Framework Programme IV (1994 - 1998). Environment and Climate Programme of DG Xii. Ecologic - Centre for International and European Environmental Research, Berlin.

In this study, Ecologic reviewed the development of Bulgaria's environmental quality and provided an overview of the development of Bulgaria's environmental policy, including its legal foundations and environmental policy instruments. The analysis' main focus was on progress and existing deficits in Bulgaria's adoption of the European Union's environmental Acquis communautaire. On this basis, the analysis also identified areas in which extensive advising and investments by bilateral and multilateral institutions were needed to support Bulgaria in the area of environmental policy as it moves toward European Union membership. The study was prepared for experts in national environmental administrations and multilateral institutions.

Homeyer, Ingmar von; Alexander Carius and Stefani Bär 2000: Flexibility or Renationalization: Effects of Enlargement on EC Environmental Policy. In: Green Cowles, Maria and Michael Smith: The State of the European Union. Risks, Reform, Resistance, and Revival. Volume 5, 347-368.

The Eastern enlargement of the EU poses major challenges for German and European environmental policy. On the one hand, the process of political and economic transformation in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe offers a unique opportunity to substantially improve the state of the environment in the whole of Europe. On the other hand, there is a serious risk that the level of environmental protection will suffer – perhaps even that which has already been achieved so far will be undone - if an 'environmentally friendly' political strategy of Eastern enlargement should fail.

Ecologic analysed and compared different sources of data on the production and trade in Ozone Depleting Substances. Reporting data on production, imports and exports of ozone depleting substances (ODS) is one of the most fundamental bases for checking compliance with the Montreal Protocol. There are different sources for generating the necessary data. The European Commission has generally relied on the reporting by producers and importers/exporters as required under Article 17 of Regulation (EC) 3093/94 to generate the needed information. These data have provided the basis for submitting the annual data required under Article 7 of the Montreal Protocol to the Secretariat of the Protocol in Nairobi.

The Directorate General for Research of the European Parliament (EP) launched - on request of the Committee of the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection - an external study on "Effluent Charging Systems in the EU Member States". This study focusses on economic instruments for regulating direct discharges of effluents into natural waters.

Kraemer, R. Andreas; Anne-Gabrielle Mazurek; Alexandra Hähnel 2000: Rencontre Franco-Allemande/ Deutsch-Französisches Treffen.Développement durable et intégration des considérations environnementales à l'ensemble des secteurs politiques. Nachhaltige Entwicklung und Integration des Umweltschutzes in allen Politiksektoren. Ecologic, Berlin.

This study identifies EU accession requirements for the Accession Countries in the area of the environment and energy, and the relevant specific circumstances in each of the five countries (Estonia, Poland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary). Based on the respective findings, it is possible to draw conclusions with respect to co-operation at the EU, intergovernmental and company level.

This study identifies EU accession requirements for the Accession Countries in the area of the environment and energy, and the relevant specific circumstances in each of the five countries (Estonia, Poland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary). Based on the respective findings, it is possible to draw conclusions with respect to co-operation at the EU, intergovernmental and company level.

This study identifies EU accession requirements for the Accession Countries in the area of the environment and energy, and the relevant specific circumstances in each of the five countries (Estonia, Poland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary). Based on the respective findings, it is possible to draw conclusions with respect to co-operation at the EU, intergovernmental and company level.