Background Turkish legislation on the environment is improving rapidly , notably in the context of the EU approximation strategy. However, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often experience difficulties in following up on and adapting to these legislative changes. Objectives This project aimed to enhance capacities in the environmental sector by preparing an interactive guidance service, which would facilitate SMEs access to relevant information on EU environmental approximation. Specifically, the project was to - review the current Turkish and EU environmental legislation, - develop an information system on EU environmental approximation, - prepare an approximation strategy for the “End-of-Life Vehicles” Directive, and - provide training for users of the information system. Results After some initial difficulties, the project was very successful.At the beginning, SMEs at the partner OSTIM, an industrial zone hosting over 5000 small and micro-industries and the site where the first pilot studies for the elaboration of the information system were carried out, lacked commitment and interest .However the project team managed to develop significant capacity building amongst OSTIM management .This resulted in the setting-up of an environmental monitoring and information structure at management level, and led to an ISO 14000 certificate. The elaboration of a Directive Specific Implementation Plan (DSIP) for the Turkish End-of-Life-Vehicles regulation (to be transposed according to Directive 2000/53/EC) was also in jeopardy due to the initial lack of conviction on the part of the Turkish automotive industry association. This obstacle was, however, overcome, and the associations of automotive producers and suppliers provided active support to the elaboration of the DSIP. The implementation of the directive should be rather smooth, given the fact that the approach has been endorsed by the major target group. In addition , the project team produced a second DSIP, not foreseen in the project proposal. On request of the Istanbul Chamber of Industry, which became one of the major supporters of the project, a DSIP for the application of the Turkish waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) regulation (coming into force currently pending but completely elaborated) was prepared. The project team carried out training sessions covering environmental management in industry, compliance with environmental legislation and the impacts of the Turkish EU accession. This training had initially been planned to be held in seven different provinces, but due to high demand by Turkish industry, the project team increased the number of training sessions to 12. The project team set up a very comprehensive information system on environmental legislation (Turkish and EU):it provides very good and concrete guidance for all relevant industrial sectors, and a large amount of background information, such as on BATs,environmental management systems, documents on the EU accession process and all project deliverables (publications, guidelines, training materials etc.).