The EU-financed and EC-managed RENA project promoted the regional integration in the field of environment and exchange of information and experience related to preparation for EU accession in eight beneficiary countries — Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo*, FYROM, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey. Human Dynamics, as a consortium leader, assisted the European Commission in providing the Secretariat of RENA. RENA was established as a follow-up project of REReP, the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme for Southeast Europe (completed in 2009).
Above all, RENA supported the administrative authorities in the beneficiary countries with responsibility for environment, natural resources and climate action: that is, ministries with primary responsibility for environmental protection and climate action, and other ministries, institutions, and authorities responsible for, e.g. nature, water, forestry or chemicals. RENA also coordinated and cooperated with other stakeholders and initiatives working in the region, including: international financial Institutions, bilateral donors; international organisations (e.g. IMPEL, the International Sava River Basin Commission); other EU initiatives (e.g. DABLAS, HORIZON 2000, Drin Dialogue); CSOs in the environment sector; and EU member states.
RENA priority issues were set by the environment ministers of the eight beneficiary countries and linked to the EU environmental priorities. These included: strategic investments and planning; climate change; cross-border cooperation and multi-lateral agreements; environmental compliance and enforcement toward EU accession (ECENA); and public participation. Concrete RENA activities under each priority issue covered a broad range of activities, including capacity building workshops, seminars, training and pilot projects, implemented through Working Groups.