ABSTRACT
In its general meaning, the term deregulation means either to diminish the field of legal regulation, or to replace it with other means and methods. However, when examining the issue of deregulation and the environment in relation to the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries (also frequently referred to as the countries in economic transition - CID, it has to be kept in mind that these countries currently have a less detailed and less sophisticated environmental policy and legal framework than would be desirable. This is reflected in the assessment by the Director of the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe CREe), who in a report on the approximation of EU environmental legislation, wrote the following:
After successfully negotiating Association Agreements with the ED, ten CEE governments have begun adjusting internal economic structures and developing mechanisms needed to proceed towards European integration. This complex process calls for a comprehensive strategy which may allow the prioritisation process needed to achieve the final goal. Among all the important areas of adjustment, environmental protection was identified as one of the most difficult and resource intensive.
