STELLA assisted the European Commission in monitoring the implementation of projects financed by the Financial Instrument for the Environment (LIFE)-Third Countries. The assignment covered a wide geographical area including 12 Mediterranean countries (Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, West Bank and Gaza), Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Albania in the Balkans, and St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad in the Baltic region. STELLA managed the monitoring of more than 70 projects focusing on capacity building in the fields of environment and sustainable development, including integrated coastal zone management, water and wastewater management, solid waste management, and legislation and regulatory support. STELLA reviewed and assessed progress made by projects and identified potential administrative, technical, and financial problems encountered on the ground. STELLA also played an important role in strengthening the communication and liaison between the Commission and the LIFE-Third Countries beneficiaries, as well as promoting the dissemination of lessons learned and success stories.

For the European Commission, STELLA coordinated the selection of the best project proposals to receive financial support from the EC Financial Instrument for the Environment (LIFE) Third Countries (TCY). LIFE TCY aims at contributing to the establishment of capacities and administrative structures needed in the environmental sector and developing environmental policy and action programmes in third countries bordering on the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas. In response to a call for proposals for the extension of LIFE III, the EC received about 100 new proposals from 13 eligible countries and territories (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, West Bank and Gaza, and the Baltic shoreline of Russia: St Petersburg and Kaliningrad regions) and from international organisations. The objective of the assignment was to select the best project proposals in accordance with the criteria in the LIFE Regulation and to provide technical support and assess the projects considered eligible by the Commission services. STELLA led a team of seven evaluators who assessed eligible proposals according to the following criteria: Technical and financial reliability of the applicants; Conformity with the scope of LIFE TCY, as defined in the LIFE regulation; Coherence and quality: projects should be technically and financially feasible; Institutional/capacity building effect, viability and sustainability; Interest of the project; and Dissemination/visibility.

For the European Commission, STELLA prepared a Europe-Asia environmental cooperation strategy covering 17 Asian countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. Based on the overall objective of the EU environmental cooperation programme with Asia (assisting Asia in protecting its natural resources and abating its pollution), STELLA reviewed the environmental challenges in Asia, stakes for Europe, and existing environmental cooperation with Asia. After several internal consultation meetings with the European Commission's Directorate Generals and one public consultation meeting, STELLA established Europe-Asia environmental cooperation objectives. STELLA prepared a report summarising the results of its review and specifying criteria for selecting Europe-Asia environmental cooperation activities and for the strategy's implementation.

For the European Commission, STELLA conducted the mid-term evaluation of the Asia Eco-Best (AEB) programme. Financed by the EC, the five-year AEB programme (€8 million) promoted European environment best practices and business in Asia. AEB sought to (1) promote environmental-friendly economic growth in Asia, (2) increase exposure and access of Asian businesses to environment-related know-how, capacities and standards in the EU, and (3) increase trade and investment flows between the EU and Asia, based on competition that is not detrimental to the environment. The Regional Institute of Environmental Technology (RIET) implemented AEB and provided services to AEB recipients through co-financing, including conferences and seminars, training and information material, Environmental Impact Assessment, and business networks. STELLA led the evaluation team and reviewed how effectively RIET was implementing AEB. STELLA analysed answers to a questionnaire sent to grant recipients and comments from the AEB Advisors. The evaluation team met representatives from AEB and RIET, European partners in Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and France and Asian partners in Singapore, China, Thailand, Indonesia, and India. STELLA concluded that AEB had a positive impact on European SMEs and was very successful. STELLA also made suggestions to strengthen AEB and RIET.

For the European Commission, STELLA prepared a proposal to finance Asia Pro-Eco, the second phase of the Asia Eco-Best (AEB) programme --a five-year programme to improve the environment in Asia and promote trade and investment in European environmental technologies. The proposal described the contents of Asia Pro-Eco, its organisation, operation, instruments, and costs. The team led by STELLA developed (1) the programme's objectives and content, (2) the institutional framework to implement the programme, and (3) the programme budget. Asia Pro-Eco aims at promoting economic co-operation between the EU and Asia in environmental technology transfer of European environmental know-how and technology, and co-operation among environmental business and institutions in the Asian region. The program design team met with the main stakeholders in Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, Sweden, Finland, UK, and Ireland) and Asia (China, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines) to seek their inputs for developing Asia Pro-Eco.

STELLA participated in the mid-term evaluation of the Municipal Environmental Cooperation Programme (MECP), a programme of environmental cooperation between European and Asian municipalities financed by the European Commission and managed by the Paris-based United Town Development Agency. This three-year programme had a budget of more than 500,000 ECUs and aimed at facilitating the transfer of European know-how and engineering expertise to Asia. Environmental fields in the programme included water distribution, drainage, sewage collection and treatment, solid and hazardous waste collection, treatment and recycling, air and noise pollution abatement, green space planning and energy saving. STELLA assessed MECP's technical, financial, organisational, and managerial effectiveness. STELLA designed and sent a 20-page questionnaire to 66 interested parties (cities and associations of cities, NGOs, international institutions, consultants). In parallel, STELLA staff met officials from four European cities (in Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom) and seven Asian cities (in Cambodia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam). Based on these visits and the responses to the questionnaire, STELLA made specific recommendations to the European Commission regarding MECP's future.

For the European Commission, STELLA managed the Malta Environmental Approximation Project (MEAP). MEAP's goal was to develop and provide a realistic programme for the transposition, implementation, and enforcement of the EU environmental acquis. Implementing EU environmental legislation in Malta had significant administrational and institutional changes and required significant financial commitments in terms of investments, operation and maintenance costs, costs of enforcement, inspection and monitoring, etc. STELLA has identified four environmental sectors for which the approximation of the acquis will result in the largest investments: water supply and wastewater treatment, waste management, air pollution control, and industrial pollution control. In each of these sectors, STELLA has identified the cost components and established the frameworks to calculate total investment and annualised costs.

As a candidate for EU membership, Cyprus had to transpose the EU environmental acquis into its national legislation. This had a major impact on solid waste management practices for the municipalities of Cyprus. With funding from the European Commission (SMAP Programme), STELLA has conducted a project to identify and evaluate options for composting and for segregated collection in the Greater Limassol Area (GLA). To identify and evaluate these options, the project reviewed composting and segregated collection in Europe. It also collected data on solid waste generated by the Greater Limassol Area (in particular, hotels and restaurants) and on the markets for recycled materials (e.g., glass, paper and cardboard, plastics, metals, and compost) in Cyprus and in other countries. STELLA assisted the local pilot-recycling manager in designing the pilot project and the local public awareness specialist in designing awareness activities. STELLA provided the Team Leader for this project and prepared two sectoral reports. Finally, the project included the preparation of the Terms of Reference for the design of a composting plant, and provided an overview of the tools used by European municipalities to encourage segregated collection.

For Slovenia's Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, STELLA developed a plan for implementing EU Directive 94/62 on packaging and packaging waste. STELLA assessed the quantities of packaging waste generated in Slovenia and the quantities of packaging waste currently recycled and recovered. STELLA then projected future packaging waste management practices in Slovenia and assessed Slovenia's legal and institutional backgrounds. Finally, STELLA reviewed the implementation of Directive 94/62 in four Member States: Austria, France, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. STELLA proposed institutional arrangements to achieve recycling and recovery targets specified in the Directive. In particular, STELLA proposed that the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning be responsible for monitoring and coordination. STELLA also proposed that a non-profit organisation be in charge of collecting fees from packaging producers and providing municipalities with these fees to help them segregate packaging waste. STELLA was responsible for estimating the costs of implementation.

With financing from the European Commission's PHARE programme and as part of Romania's accession to the European Union, STELLA analysed seven specific requirements of the environmental acquis, assessed their costs, identified institutional provisions required for implementation, and made specific recommendations to the Romanian authorities for future implementation. The seven requirements dealt with water and wastewater, noise, air, Industrial Pollution Prevention and Control, Seveso, laboratories and environmental management systems, and biodiversity.

For Romania's Ministry of Environment and Water Management (MEWM) and with financing from the PHARE programme, STELLA provided the team leader, financing expert, and expert in charge of industrial pollution prevention and control. STELLA staff assessed the costs associated with the implementation of EU environmental directives and evaluated the financial needs for this implementation. STELLA developed tools to facilitate the implementation of EU environmental directives (cost benefit analysis, development of cost recovery mechanism, least cost-analysis of environmental law implementation). STELLA also elaborated a sound environmental financing strategy with sector and regional priorities, possible funding sources, and models for preparing feasible environmental investment projects. We analysed MEWM's training needs for environmental implementation and trained MEWM staff in relation to the activities of the project. STELLA also developed matrices of unit costs for the heavy investment directives, in particular, the urban wastewater treatment, drinking water, landfill, and waste management directives. We have developed the list of priority projects to be financed by ISPA and the EU Cohesion funds using various criteria such as the financial capacity for public services. The project has trained MEWM staff and staff from the local and regional Environmental Protection Agencies.

For the European Commission, and as part of Romania's accession process into the European Union, STELLA managed a study that constitutes a credible and useful basis for assisting Romanian authorities in the accession negotiations. The study makes a realistic assessment of the costs and benefits of transposing in five of Romania's industrial sectors the European environmental directives that require the heaviest investments, in particular the Industrial Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) and Large Combustion Plants (LCP) directives. The study also recommends policies that ensure an efficient transition towards European standards, produces an agenda for adopting these standards, and identifies timeframes for reaching them. It reviews the situation in five sectors -production of chemicals and petrochemicals, steel, energy, construction materials, and mining- providing recommendations for possible immediate ways to improve the situation in each case. In each of these sectors, STELLA evaluated the unit costs of various options to comply with the EU directives and prepared methods to calculate annualised costs and benefits.

For the Government of Ukraine, the Council for Approximation of Legislation chaired by the Prime Minister of Ukraine, STELLA, as partner of the Ukrainian-European Policy and Legal Advice Centre (UEPLAC) supported Ukraine in the process of European integration and legal approximation. The overall objective of the project was to support the understanding, implementation, and ownership by the Ukrainian authorities of the whole process of approximation to EU principles and laws in all of the areas foreseen in the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and in the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan. The specific objectives were to assist in preparing approximated legislation work, strengthen the Ukrainian policy-making/legislative process according to Ukraine's objective for EU integration, and build Ukrainian capacity in understanding and being able to implement the process of approximating Ukrainian legislation to EU legislation. STELLA assessed the Ukrainian legislation in the environmental field against EU environmental acquis communautaire. We carried out a Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) of transposing and implementing the EU acquis on road transport in the Ukrainian legislation for the Ukrainian road haulers. We also provided policy recommendations on the integration of energy and environment policies into transport policies in light of the EU directives and experiences of the New Member States and gave our expert opinion and legal support on draft laws by comparing with the EU acquis and best practices. We have also reviewed the Ukrainian legislation on drinking water quality and river protection, and analysed the sustainability of Ukraine's legal system and the measures and needs for more approximation. Finally, STELLA has advised line ministries on strengthening environmental policies and prepared Ukraine's environmental policy for 2020. We have participated and organised workshops, work meetings, and round tables to provide expert advice on environmental protection policies.

STELLA provided the financial/economic expert for this project financed by the World Bank to provide technical assistance to the Budget Department of Romania's Ministry of Environment and Water Management (MEWM). STELLA facilitated continued improvements in the identification, costing, and prioritisation of MEWM's budgetary programmes. We ensured the development of links between the work of the budget department within MEWM and the National Development Plan work in the Ministry of Public Finance, in such a way that any projects or activities that will benefit from EU post-accession funds are fully reflected in the budget submissions. We also developed and integrated financial management and audit standards to follow up the quality/outcome of the financed budget programmes and the efficiency of MEWM's spending. We worked on strengthening MEWM's budget analysis to ensure that MEWM can effectively analyse policy options in the submitted budgets; we assisted in developing strategic planning processes and a strategic plan on the environment component for the next Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period.

For the Managing Authority (MA) of the Sectoral Operational Programme (SOP) for the Environment under Romania's Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MESD), STELLA assessed the financial and technical soundness of waste and water infrastructure projects to be co-financed by the Cohesion and Structural Funds and in compliance with the EU environmental directives. One of the issues studied was the impact of the definition of agglomeration under the wastewater treatment directive (91/271/CEE). The project strengthened MA's institutional capacity to perform a sound overall programming and monitoring of EU co-financed projects in Romania and to use efficiently and effectively the funds made available. Through on-the-job co-operation, elaboration of methodologies and staff training, this project reinforced the capacity of MA staff to prepare sound project plans, guide municipalities on the preparation of project proposals, appraise and prioritise project proposals, evaluate project applications and tender documents, manage efficiently the process of evaluation, and monitor the implementation of approved projects. STELLA revised waste and water infrastructure projects' documents such as master plans, feasibility studies, EIA and cost-benefit and sensitivity analyses, and corrected and improved the applications. We also reviewed and edited 11 Cohesion and Structural Fund applications for water and waste projects and revised tender documents according to FIDIC's yellow and red books. At the end of our project, DG Regio had approved almost 1 billion euros worth of water projects.

STELLA assisted the regional and national environmental authorities - Ministry of Development, Public Works, and Housing (MDPWH) and Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MESD) - with the proper and timely implementation of an environmental infrastructure grant scheme for local authorities. The objective of this project was to improve environmental protection at the local and regional levels through supporting investments for the public sector and strengthening the institutional capacity to manage grant schemes and future structural funds. STELLA increased the number of local authorities aware of the opportunities offered by the grant scheme for financing small environmental infrastructure projects. We also increased the number of bankable environmental infrastructure projects proposed to ensure a complete absorption of the EC funds available. Furthermore, we trained members of the Regional Evaluation Committees for evaluating and selecting projects; we trained staff from MDPWH, MESD, Regional Environmental Protection Agencies (REPAs), Local Environmental Protection Agencies (LEPAs), and Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in monitoring the grants. We also trained the beneficiaries of the investment grant schemes in all aspects required for the sound implementation of the grant contracts, including secondary procurement and monitoring. STELLA also assisted local authorities in preparing tender documents for environmental infrastructure projects, such as master plans, feasibility studies, environmental impact assessments and economic and financial analysis. Through the raised awareness of the relevant regional and local authorities, this project has supported the implementation of the environmental infrastructure investment grant scheme for the public sector at the regional and local levels.

Each year between 2008 and 2011, STELLA successfully implemented 28 Information Sessions on behalf of the European Commission and in collaboration with the EU Member States. Annually, we organised one Session in each EU Member State and two in Belgium. The Information Sessions aimed to inform potential beneficiaries about the LIFE+ Programme, whether it is the best financing programme for their project, how to submit a good proposal, and how to manage a LIFE+ project. Each Session was conducted in the official language of the Member State (with the exception of Ireland and Malta, where the Sessions were in English) and included an official Presentation approved by the European Commission, and presentations by the national LIFE+ contact points and successful LIFE / LIFE+ projects. Over the past four years, the Information Sessions have reached annually up to 2,700 potential LIFE+ applicants across Europe, and the high quality LIFE+ PowerPoint Presentation and other materials reached an even wider audience via the European Commission LIFE website.

STELLA has participated in the implementation of the "IWPM Integrated Wastewater Purification Management" LIFE project whose overall objective was to demonstrate how an innovative IWPM-System can improve wastewater management and treatment, increasing the quality of effluent and reducing costs, in support of EU-Directives on Wastewater, Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM; EU-Directive 2000/60/EC), and Flora, Fauna, Habitat (FFH). To improve the performance of wastewater treatment systems facing problems of load variations, IWPM installed pipes between two plants in Germany's Bad Essen region to equalise the loads entering the plants. The plants were physically (biologically activated pipes) and electronically (remote control) connected to equalise and optimise the loads, thus allowing using the plants' capacities to their maximum. STELLA studied IWPM's feasibility and transferability in new EU member states as well as candidate countries.

STELLA provided the team leader for this project investigating the strengths and weaknesses of the waste utilities in Pristina, Mitrovica, Gjilan, Ferizaj, Gjakova, Prizren, and Peja regions. The team focussed on two main areas essential for an effective waste management in Kosovo: (1) organisational and operational support; and (2) financial management support. STELLA staff (i) assessed the organisational, operational, and financial management of waste utilities and recommended administrative/institutional changes and financial measures to improve services; (ii) enhanced "customer contracts" and compliance with the rules of the Water and Waste Regulatory Office (WWRO) while including women and minorities without discrimination; (iii) improved the procedures to maintain infrastructure; (iv) assessed, improved, and extended the collection routes, including in rural areas; (v) improved the maintenance of computer systems and staff training; (vi) established financial control mechanisms; (vii) assessed and improved billing; and (viii) prepared a development plan.

The overall objective of the ACP - EU Water Facility (WF) was to contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable development through achieving the Millennium Development Goals on water and sanitation. The Call for Proposals covered three components: (A) Improvement of Water Management and Governance; (B) Civil Society and Decentralised Cooperation Initiatives; and (C) Water and Sanitation Infrastructure. STELLA's team was involved in evaluating and assessing the project proposals under component C. The main applicants were public authorities and private operators active in water/wastewater treatment and water distribution. STELLA analysed the evaluation grids and provided feedback to the WF on the evaluation of the Concept Note and the pre-selected proposals; we also prepared a monitoring system of the evaluation process and the final evaluation report with the list of selected proposals and a reserve list.

For the Haute-Normandie Regional Council, STELLA and Ecosphère have prepared a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) complying with the requirements of the 2001/42/EC directive, also known as the SEA directive, and using the EU guidelines as presented in the "SEA Handbook for Cohesion Fund (2007-2013)". STELLA's experts performed a screening in order to determine to which extent the ROP for Haute Normandie is falling under the provisions of the SEA directive. In the scoping stage, we prepared an evaluation matrix that we applied to every measure proposed in the ROP. We also defined direct and indirect quantification indicators. To draft the environmental report, we proposed alternative solutions and conditioned the existing measures with eco-clauses. The environmental report produced is consistent with the agreed scope of the assessment. STELLA's experts have assisted the Haute Normandie Regional Council in the public consultation process and the conclusions and evaluation of the public consultation process are in the report. STELLA and Ecosphère have prepared monitoring tools and indicators for the evaluation throughout the entire implementation of the ROP.

STELLA implemented a project funded under ASIA-LINK, one of the Commission's Asia-wide Programmes. The goal of the project was to develop a curriculum on low-cost wastewater treatment for higher education in Europe and Asia. The project has: (i) strengthened the analytical and training capacity of higher education institutions in Asia (China and Vietnam) and Europe (Denmark and Belgium) by training MSc level students with the most up-to-date knowledge in low-cost wastewater treatment and environmental economics; (ii) assisted in developing curricula worldwide on low-cost wastewater treatment and environmental economics and in disseminating information through a network of higher learning institutions and former students; and (iii) established links among partners allowing the development of more contacts in education and research. The project developed new approaches, methods, and analytical tools to help integrate the environment into the decision-making process and influence the choice of appropriate policies. The project resulted in a complete curriculum, already tested and improved. Professors were trained and have now received all of the teaching materials required to repeat this experience later on. One of the outcomes is a strengthened capacity and awareness of professionals in economic concepts and methods to estimate environmental benefits and conduct cost-benefit analyses.

STELLA is assisting Romania's Government in its implementation of its Environment Sectoral Operational Programme (SOP ENV). In this new 1.16 million EUR project, STELLA is in the Interdevelopment consortium in charge of assisting Romania's Intermediate Bodies (IB) in evaluating the proposals submitted by various institutions in response to the calls for proposals under SOP ENV's Priority Axis 4 (nature and biodiversity). We will summarise the results of this assistance in technical reports on the selection of projects under PA 4. STELLA is also organising a large number of training sessions on project cycle management, cost-benefit analysis, nature conservation and management of Natura 2000 sites and protected areas, legislation, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). These sessions use interactive-oriented training methods (e.g., questions and answers and discussions) and engage the trainees to work on practical exercises. The training sessions include five four-day and five three-day sessions with 30 participants per session and 24 one-day sessions with 40 participants per session. Finally, STELLA is organising 16 "ad-hoc" training sessions. The topics of these sessions will be decided jointly with the IB depending on their needs; we will schedule these sessions quickly in order to provide the IB with the support they need.

STELLA is implementing a USAID-financed project of three years and with a $7.2 million budget to assist the government of Kosovo with the implementation of the national policies in water supply and sanitation. STELLA is part of a consortium with PA Consulting in charge of supporting and reinforcing the financial and technical sustainability of Regional Water Companies (RWCs) to improve water supply and sanitation services. STELLA provides the Regional Technical Coordinator and a tariff expert for this project identifying and addressing key challenges in Kosovo's water supply and sanitation service sector. The main focus of the project is on two RWCs; Hidrodrini RWC covering the municipalities of Peja, Klina, Decan, Junik, and Istog; and Hidroregjioni Jugor RWC covering the municipalities of Prizren, Suhareke, Malisheva, and Dragas. The project objectives are to: (1) assist the Government of Kosovo in implementing national policy reforms to support the long-term sustainability of RWCs; (2) assist two RWCs by improving their technical and financial sustainability and effective management of water supply and sanitation services; and (3) support targeted infrastructure rehabilitation and equipment investment in reform-oriented RWCs that demonstrate improved system performance and sustainability.

For a member of a start-up joint venture, STELLA staff conducted environmental audits of three units producing graphite electrodes for steel plants in France and Italy. The audits were to verify compliance with existing and anticipated French and Italian environmental laws and regulations, as well as EU directives. STELLA staff evaluated the risks from discharges, emissions, and wastes from these units. STELLA staff then estimated the costs of bringing these units into compliance with current and future standards. The client used these cost estimates to revise its financial contribution to the joint venture.

Following the sale of the group "Knoll" by 21' International to Westinghouse, STELLA staff conducted environmental audits of six furniture (wood or metal) manufacturing units in France and Italy. The purpose of these audits was to verify compliance with existing and anticipated French and Italian environmental laws and regulations, as well as EU directives. STELLA staff also evaluated the risks posed by the discharges, emissions, and wastes from these units. 21' International implemented the audits' recommendations under the direction of STELLA staff. Specifically, STELLA staff prepared an inventory of air pollution sources and wastes generated by these six units and managed (1) the construction of four wastewater treatment plants, (2) the removal and replacement of two PCB transformers and 22 underground storage tanks, and (3) the excavation and disposal of soils contaminated with trichloroethane (TCE).

STELLA staff coordinated the preparation of a complex and comprehensive study to evaluate the impact of the construction of a tourist resort (golf course, hotels, apartments) along the Atlantic Ocean and the dunes of the southwest coast of France. The study evaluated the impact on several rare plants and trees (royal osmund, common smilax, cork oak) and endangered species (otter, European mink, and genette). STELLA staff directed the preparation of a hydrogeological study to analyse the equilibrium between the salt and fresh water and evaluate the impact on the Lareuillot and Montagne du Bec wetlands. STELLA staff also estimated the impact on ecosystems within protected areas such as Etang Noir de Seignosse, Marais d'Orx, and Lac Noir d'Ondres. STELLA staff recommended and estimated the costs of various measures (during construction and operation of the resort) to mitigate or reduce the impacts.