The Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC Directive) as adopted in 1996 was to be transposed by the Member States by 1999. The Accession Countries are obliged to transpose and implement the directive before joining the European Union. Germany and other Member States are assisting the Accession Countries in the pre-accession process. This Ecologic report, entitled "Economic Aspects of the Implementation of the IPPC Directive in Germany – An analysis against the background of the situation in the Czech Republic", made up part of this assistance.