The objective of the present study is to analyze the relationship between the performance of the waste management systems in the EU Member States (MS) and their use of economic instruments (EI). On the basis of this analysis, the opportunity to move towards a European common approach for the use of EIs in relation to waste management is explored. The results show that landfill charges and product responsibility schemes are implemented in most MS.

In times of financial crises and pressure to justify public spending, evaluation of projects, programs, and policies increases. Sustainability, which has become a socially and politically widely accepted concept throughout Europe, therefore ought to be included to a greater extent within evaluation practices to assess social and ecological impacts. Anneke von Raggamby of Ecologic Institute is one of the editors of this book.

In order to foster implementation of waste-related European Directives the state of national implementation among the EU-27 must be analysed and assessed. The project supported the European Commission by analysing the completeness of the national implementation reports for the End-of-life vehicles and the Mining waste Directives. Thus, it contributed to identifying outstanding requirements of the Directives and hence policy action.

This CTI Capacity Building Semniar brought together about 75 key persons from politics, business, non-governmental organisations, research institutes and think tanks from Central and Eastern European Countries, the former Soviet Union and Mongolia as well as OECD countries. Participants were given the opportunity to discuss and develop concrete projects in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They were encouraged to present first project ideas and were given the opportunity to meet experts from OECD countries to share their experiences and ideas concerning the economic potential and benefits of climate change policies. It was the 7th event of the series of CTI Capacity Building Seminars.