The main purposes of the Workshop were to:
1. Review problems of land degradation and drought mitigation in Central and Eastern Europe in the context of the UNCCD, taking into account its linkage and synergy with other environmental conventions;
2. Assist countries of Central and Eastern Europe in the process of their accession to the UNCCD and raise awareness among the countries of the region of the benefits, which could be gained from participation in the
Convention;
3.Strengthen regional cooperation between countries of Central and Eastern Europe on the issues of land degradation and drought mitigation; and
4.Promote environmental legislation in Central and Eastern Europe.

The Workshop was organised by the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in cooperation with the European Commission and the Hanns Siedel Foundation, with financial
support from the European Commission, Governments of the Federal Republic of Germany and Finland and from the Hanns Siedel Foundation. The Workshop was held in Brussels, Belgium from 8 to 9 May 2000.The Workshop was attended by about 50 participants including representatives from 20 countries of Central and Eastern Europe and from the Federal Republic of Germany and from Portugal, UNSO/UNDP, the European Commission and the European Parliament, the Hanns Siedel Foundation (for the list of participants see Annex XIII).