RESEARCH

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the role of the environment in Central and Eastern European states by pursuing the incompatibility between the economic development needed to maintain the democratic institutions already in place, and the crisis levels of environmental degradation in so many areas of Eastern and Central Europe. It is believed that costs of reversing environmental damages in these areas, and the implementation of sustainable development policies and technologies, are so great that the Eastern European states will be unable to meet them, which may lead to a further decline in the environmental quality in both CEE and the EU. This ability to impact the EU's environment could be the major factor in a decision by the EU to implement environmental taxes against these states. As a result, the possibility is raised that Russia may provide an alternative to the EU in the formation of a economically based bloc, with implications for trade, environment and security issues. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.