European Agency for Reconstruction

How we are helping the Environment

in Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and FYR Macedonia

Presentation to the Governing Board3 October 2003

Environment: A difficult legacy in the Balkans

• Effect of war – mines, unexploded ordinance, uranium

• Little investment in infrastructure• Dirty industry• A weak regulatory environment• Limited capacity of

environmental institutions• A lack of public awareness• Rudimentary or absent waste

management• Inadequate conservation

management

Environment: The consequences are stark

• Widespread environmental degradation (including coastal and protected areas)

• Pollution of water resources

• Severe local air pollution• Soil pollution and erosion• Deforestation • Human health suffers

Environment: The needs are numerous and costly

• Develop new laws and set new standards

• Develop institutions• Rehabilitate infrastructure,

particularly sewerage systems and waste storage facilities

• Modernise industry• Deal with “hot-spots”• Build public awareness

Environment: Encouraging reform through action

• Supporting Ministries of Environment

• Developing legislation• Establishing regulatory

bodies• Drafting national and local

environmental action plans• Some emergency action to

remedy “hot spots”

Environment: Serbia 2003

• Setting up a national environmental agency

• Drafting a national environmental strategy and environmental action plan

• Preparing 5 local action plans• Feasibility study for

hazardous waste collection and treatment.

• Feasibility study for a waste-water project in Belgrade

• Study to control emissions in coal fired power plants

• Rehabilitating Pancevo Canal

Environment: Montenegro 2003

• Developing the Ministry of Environment, and local authorities management of environmental matters

• Preparing a master plan for improving sewerage and waste-water management

• Establishing regional solid-waste utilities, and reforming legislation

• Providing trucks and other waste collection equipment

Environment: Kosovo 2003

• Providing institutional support to the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning

• Developing and implementing environmental legislation

• Improving management of water resources

• Developing models for water supply and wastewater disposal systems in rural areas

• Continue to clear ash dumps, and complete landfills

Environment: FYR Macedonia 2003

• Institutional support to the Ministry of Environment

• Improving the management of trans-boundary water resources at Dojran lake and Vardar river

• Aligning environmental legislation to EU standards

• Drafting with government a national environmental action plan, and local plans

• Phasing out leaded petrol; working to remedy “hot spots”

• Feasibility studies for solid-waste management

Environment: Helping clean up

• Six new landfills in Kosovo

• Cleaning the ash dumps by Kosovo B

• Air and river monitoring systems in FYR Macedonia

• Better sewerage close to the Skadar lake in Montenegro

• Dealing with the Pancevo Canal in Serbia

• Providing waste collection equipment

Environment: Cooperating with donors

• Sweden and Finland with the Ministry of Environment in Serbia

• German government in waste-water

• French government in a waste-water facilities in Podgorica and Ivanovo (Serbia)

• With Greece in our work in FYR Macedonia

• Also working with IFIs