The event will be directed towards stakeholders in new and old Member States and will focus on the implementation of Directive 96/61/EC on integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC). It will provide a forum for an exchange of experiences and views on the implementation of the Directive, the use of the reference documents on best available techniques (BREFs) and the future development of the Directive.

It will include a one day workshop followed by a one and a half day plenary session.

The objective of the workshop (20 September 2005) is to foster the exchange of experiences, especially regarding use of the BREFs, among experts from the Member States. By assembling representatives from across the EU, the workshop will facilitate the creation of informal networks among participants, enabling future mutual support and dialogue in the ongoing implementation of the IPPC Directive, with special emphasis on the use of the BREFs and compliance of existing installations with the Directive by 30 October 2007. Particular attention will be given to the specific problems and interests of the new Member States. Participation in this workshop is restricted. The results of the exchange of views at the workshop will be presented in the plenary session.

The plenary session (21-22 September 2005) will cover the five-year period since the IPPC conference in Stuttgart, 2000, which focused on the development of BREFS (Sevilla process). It will assess progress since then and provide a forum for the exchange of experiences and information on the implementation of the IPPC Directive, considering also the perspectives for future evolution of the Directive. The use of the BREFs in the old and new Member States will be a special focus. The aim is to raise awareness of the paramount importance of the Directive for the prevention and control of industrial pollution and the development of sustainable production patterns, and to enhance harmonisation of implementation across the EU.

Simultaneous translation into English, French and German will be provided.