"This stems from our shared negative experience of illegal waste dumping in our countries," Bursik, who was hosting in Prague a meeting of environment ministers from Slovakia, Poland and Hungary, explained.

The countries were used as a dustbin for illegal dumping of domestic and other waste from Germany last year after a tightening up of local waste disposal rules.

Bursik said that the four countries will seek a strengthening of the principle that waste must be treated at the nearest site with cross-border shipments only permitted localised shipments at a June meeting of EU environment ministers.

Germany, the current head of the EU's Council of Ministers, has put forward a comprise proposal regarding the revision of the EU's waste rules including the "problematic" formulation that cross border shipments of waste be permitted if destined for incinerators also producing electricity, Bursik explained.

The four central European countries will seek support from other EU members at June 19 meeting, he added.

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