In 2005 the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) celebrates its 15th anniversary which provides a good opportunity to assess the past developments and future challenges. The REC was established 15 years ago by the United States, the European Commission and Hungary as an independent, international organisation to assist in solving environmental problems in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and to promote cooperation of all stakeholders through partnership for a sustainable future.

Following its mission the REC has been putting sustainable development as a red thread through all its program development in support of the implementation of Agenda 21, and the conventions of UNCED (Rio 1992), the fundamental agreements quoted again and again in e.g. the UN Millennium Development Goals (2000) or the documents of the UN WSSD (Johannesburg 2002) and those of the World Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD, New York).

During its existence the REC has developed, improved and implemented relevant models and tools such as the multistakeholder approach, or regional/international partnerships. By today the REC is acknowledged not only for its performance on the environmental fields but also on its sustainability solutions with a solid independent character.

The political context of the CEE region changed in 2004 with the enlargement of the European Union. The special environmental problems or the differing political statuses of the CEE countries strengthen the mandates of this independent international organization.

The REC – as a driving force of the international multistakeholder cooperation – will celebrate anniversary with key representatives of all current and future partners, donors and beneficiaries. Following traditional REC values like open and constructive cooperation, transparent decision making, timely and quality implementation of decisions and – last but not least – paying tribute to all involved in the partnership the anniversary conference will provide a neutral platform for dialogue, networking and cooperation among stakeholders and partners at and between the global, European, national and local levels.