Green Serbia - The Environmental Movement in Serbia 2019 by CorD Magazine

GREEN SERBIA The Environmental Movement In Serbia 2019

GORAN TRIVAN, Serbian Minister of Environmental Protection ● IVAN KARIĆ, State Secretary at the Ministry of Environmental Protection ● BRANISLAVA JOVIČIĆ, Centre for the Promotion of Sustainable Development ● JASMINA JOVIĆ, Assistant Minister in the Sector for Nature Protection and Climate Change, Ministry of Environmental Protection ● BILJANA FILIPOVIĆ-ĐUŠIĆ, Minister’s Deputy, Sector for International Cooperation and European integration, Ministry for Environmental Protection ● FILIP ABRAMOVIĆ, Assistant Minister, Waste and Wastewater Department, Ministry of Environmental Protection ● ALEKSANDAR VESIĆ, Assistant Minister in the Sector for Environmental Management, Serbian Ministry of Environmental Protection ● MSc.Eng. MILAN STEVANOVIĆ, Environmental Investment Expert ● FILIP RADOVIĆ, Director of the Environmental Protection Agency ● SLOBODAN PEROVIĆ, Assistant Minister in the Sector for Strategic Planning and Projects, Ministry for Environmental Protection ● ŽELJKO PANTELIĆ, Assistant Minister for Supervision and Prevention, Ministry of Environmental Protection ● JELENA KIŠ, Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs Manager at Ball ● NEBOJŠA JAKOVLJEVIĆ, Managing Director, JKP Vodovod i kanalizacija Kragujevac ● Prim. Dr. DRAGANA DESPOT, Director of the Institute for Biocides and Medical Ecology ● MIROSLAV KRMPOTIĆ, director, HidroGeoEko Inženjering ● MILAN KASTRATOVIĆ, President of the Serbian Association of Recovery Organizations ● NEVENA ČOLIĆ MOHORA, Director of MITECO

CONTENTS 06

OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES COMMENT

CAN - PACKAGING AS THE MOST IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL ALLY

JELENA KIŠ, SUSTAINABILITY AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS MANAGER AT BALL

PROTECTING NATURE & APPLYING GLOBAL MULTILATERAL AGREEMENTS

YEAR OF TURNAROUNDS

GORAN TRIVAN, SERBIAN MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

JASMINA JOVIĆ, ASSISTANT MINISTER IN THE SECTOR FOR NATURE PROTECTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE, MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

22 23 23 24

NEWS

MIROSLAV KRMPOTIĆ, DIRECTOR, HIDROGEOEKO INŽENJERING

JUPOL TRAVELS, JUPOL CONNECTS BUSINESS

PHILOSOPHISE GREEN! BUSINESS

RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS CONTRIBUTES TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

HEINEKEN

IVAN KARIĆ, STATE SECRETARY AT THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

BILJANA FILIPOVIĆ-ĐUŠIĆ, MINISTER’S DEPUTY, SECTOR FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND EUROPEAN INTEGRATION, MINISTRY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

BRANISLAVA JOVIČIĆ, CENTRE FOR THE PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

EATING AWAY THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

BUSINESS

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NEVENA ČOLIĆ MOHORA, DIRECTOR OF MITECO KNEŽEVAC

NEBOJŠA JAKOVLJEVIĆ, MANAGING DIRECTOR, JKP VODOVOD I KANALIZACIJA KRAGUJEVAC

NEW MEASURES TO COMBAT MOSQUITOES

PRIM. DR. DRAGANA DESPOT, DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE FOR BIOCIDES AND MEDICAL ECOLOGY

INVESTING TOWARDS THE EU

INSPECTION OVERSIGHT & EDUCATION

SLOBODAN PEROVIĆ, ASSISTANT MINISTER IN THE SECTOR FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING AND PROJECTS, MINISTRY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT & SECURITY

ALEKSANDAR VESIĆ, ASSISTANT MINISTER IN THE SECTOR FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, SERBIAN MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

BETTER QUALITY WATER IN KRAGUJEVAC

FILIP RADOVIĆ, DIRECTOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

WASTE - A RESOURCE FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

SERBIAN ASSOCIATION OF PACKAGING WASTE OPERATORS

MANAGING MUNICIPAL WATERS IN SERBIA

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

WE WILL RECYCLE 230,000 TONNES OF PACKAGING WASTE

FILIP ABRAMOVIĆ, ASSISTANT MINISTER, WASTE AND WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT, MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

CHAPTER 27 – THE MOST TECHNICALLY COMPLICATED

WE OWE PLANET EARTH

CARE OF WATER QUALITY FOR 20 MUNICIPALITIES

ŽELJKO PANTELIĆ, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR OVERSIGHT AND PREVENTION, MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

OVER 400,000 PREMATURE DEATHS IN EUROPE ANNUALLY AIR POLLUTION

THE ONLY CONSTANT IN LIFE IS CHANGE

MSC.ENG. MILAN STEVANOVIĆ, ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTMENT EXPERT

A WINDY ATTEMPT TO REACH A RENEWABLES TARGET SERBIAN RENEWABLE ENERGY

COMMENT

Opportunities & Challenges Environmental protection represents one of the biggest challenges for Serbia, both due to initial costs, and due to the possibility of converting the long-term devastation of nature into a chance for new investments and job creation. Well-chosen policies in this area lead to the improvement of the health of citizens, the protection of biodiversity and better economic prospects

his year could be remembered as the year when Serbia completed all preparations for the opening of Chapter 27, gained a Strategy and Law on Climate Change, and for the first time got a chance to strategically address, in a planned way, the resolving of some of the accumulated problems in environmental protection. Specifically, it is expected that in 2019, for the first time in 30 years, Serbia will have the possibility to start working on the design of 359 wastewater treatment systems and twenty regional waste landfill sites, which creates room for investment in this area. The need for intervention is immeasurably high: Serbia has around 4,000 wild dumps and only 7.8% of wastewater is processed, while – according to World Health Organisation statistics – 6,500 people die annually from the consequences of air pollution. At the same time, the climate changes to which Serbia and the region will be increasingly exposed represent a major challenge for biodiversity, but also for economic growth. We’ve already had a chance to see the kind of damage that brings in the lost GDP of floods and droughts, and primarily in people’s lost lives.

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How can we preserve what we have and not lose what is already rare and precious? Serbia has prepared a series of strategic documents that are important for this sector: in addition to preparing the draft negotiating position for Chapter 27, the Ministry of Environmental Protection drafted the first National Strategy for Combating Climate Changes, with its Action Plan, thereby launching the establishing of a strategic and political framework for combating climate change change and preparing the Law on Climate Change, as an umbrella

It is well known that harmonising with European environmental standards, and investing in environmental protection generally, implies major initial costs, but simultaneously also represents a route to new investments into a fast growing sector that creates new jobs. This theoretically gives the Ministry a completely new role in the country’s development, but if one looks at its current budget, and the level of GDP that Serbia sets aside for environmental protection, it can be seen that Serbia is the country that

Serbia receives praise for its progress on preparations for opening Chapter 27, but the level of budget allocations for the environment suggests that this topic is still far from topping policymaker's list of priorities law for establishing systems for reducing greenhouse gases and adapting to altered climatic conditions, creating conditions for the sustainable economic development of the country and reducing risks, damages and losses from fundamental and natural disasters and catastrophes. Work is also being undertaken on the Waste Management Strategy.

allocates the least in the region for environmental protection, and in which both citizens and businesses haven’t taken on their share of the burden for changing the situation in this area. Current allocations must be at least 1.2 or 1.4 per cent of GDP, while they now stand at 0.34% of GDP, which illustrates sufficiently the challenges that are ahead of us.

INTERVIEW

Year Of Turnarounds Serbia is awaited by a huge job in the years ahead when it comes to advancing environmental protection, and some of the most important moves will be made this year. We are in a position – with the support of not only the countries of the region, but also the entire UNEP – for Serbia to be at the forefront and part of the most important initiatives in the fight for the health of the planet at the global, planetary level

GORAN TRIVAN, Serbian Minister of Environmental Protection

erbia is facing numerous challenges in maintaining a healthy environment, but the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 4) simultaneously recognised the country’s contribution to regional and global efforts to reach the goals set out in Agenda 2030. Following the organising of the Ministerial Conference “Innovative Solutions for Reducing Pollution in Southeast and South Europe,” which was held in Belgrade late last year, Serbia was elected as one of the vice-president countries for the next UNEA-5 session, which will be held in 2021. At the same time, the Ministry of Environmental Protection is coordinating activities that contribute to fulfilling Goal 13, on climate change, in accordance with the obligations accepted under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement, as well as Goal 15 of the

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Sustainable Development Goals of Agenda 2030 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. On the domestic front, Serbia has begun the process of establishing a strategic-legislative framework for combatting climate change that’s harmonised with European climate legislation and the obligations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. “Included within the scope of the National Strategy for Waste Management, which is currently being drafted, will also be the principles of the circular economy, as well as preventative measures for environmental protection and reducing the consequences of climate change,” say Environmental Protection Minister Goran Trivan. “We are taking decisive steps in the area of waste management, from the improvement of legislation, securing of funds for the construction of lacking infrastructure, the use of EU funds for infrastructure projects, to incentives in the area of recycling.” » You’ve announced the adoption of the Law on Climate Change and development of the first National Strategy for Combatting Climate Change with its Action Plan. What Does this Law Provide? - This year will see the creation of the first National Strategy for Combatting Climate Change, with an associated action plan, with which the establishment of a strategic and political framework for combatting climate change will be initiated. Within the scope of this Strategy, priority measures for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and 2050 will be identified in relevant sectors – energy,

CHALLENGE

PRIORITY

GOAL

Serbia and the countries of this part of Europe will be among the most threatened regions of the world in climatic terms in the coming years

The ministry carries out various activities, the most important of which is afforestation, in order to preserve biodiversity, because that is a question of preserving the future of Serbia

It is necessary to urgently strengthen the institutional and administrative capacities of the Ministry, as well as its financial capacities and mechanisms

agriculture, industry, waste management, transport and forestry. The jurisdictions of institutions will be clarified, along with a time-frame for the implementation of certain measures, as well as the necessary financial resources, which will create the conditions for increasing economic competitiveness in line with the requirements of the European market. Alongside a strategic framework, Serbia is establishing - for the first time - a legislative framework for combatting climate change. The Law on Climate Change, which is an umbrella piece of legislation that’s very complex, establishes a system for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to altered climatic conditions, creating conditions for the sustainable economic development of the country and reducing risks, damage and losses caused by elemental and natural disasters and catastrophes. » How much do you have available in terms of funding and what can Serbia really do with that? - We’re already paying a high price for not caring for the environment; the bill is huge. I will note just a few statistics – in Serbia there are around 4,000 ‘wild’ [unregulated] landfill sites in Serbia and only 7.8% of wastewater is processed, which is unacceptable. According to the data of the World Health Organisation, 6,500 people die annually in Serbia due to air pollution. We have ourselves to blame for the

recognised as being among the areas with the greatest potential for investing in our country. The most important goal of our ministry is to compile project/technical documentation for the construction of regional landfills and wastewater treatment plants. Without that, it is not possible to launch construction works even on projects for which funds have already been secured. Along with our 450 million dinars for the preparation of documentation for wastewater treatment plants and 200 million dinars for the rehabilitation of landfill sites, we also expect 200 million euros of credit from the Council of Europe Development Bank for projects in the domain of the environment. Serbia must no longer be the country of the region which allocates the lowest budget resources for environmental protection. Those allocations must be at least 1.2 or 1.4% of GDP, while they now stand at 0.34% of GDP. In cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, works will be intensified on the establishing of sustainable funding for the activities of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the establishing the full capacities of the Green Fund, which would be an investment mechanism for launching ecological development.

» What is your ministry’s assessment of the impact of climate change on Serbia’s economic growth? - Serbia and the countries of this part of Europe will be among the most threatened regions of the world in We've strategically approached sustainable development climatic terms in the coming years. Serbia in previous years, already faced several through the preparation of the National Strategy for Combatting has, significant extreme climatic and weather Climate Change, the establishing of national goals in the area of conditions that have led to losses in human biodiversity and through the drafting of a strategic-legislative life and total material damage exceeding a framework for waste management value of five billion euros. More than 70% of losses are associated with drought and high temperatures. The most vulnerable sectors are human health, state of our environment being like it is. Now we have an opportunity agriculture, forestry, hydrology and water resources, as presented to change this by reaching the European standards of Chapter 27. in the scope of the Second Report of the Republic of Serbia accorThe draft negotiating position was prepared at least a year earlier than planned and will most likely be adopted by year’s end. Serbia ding to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is on the right track. I received that confirmation from European also includes proposed measures to adapt these sectors to altered Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella in our conversation in climatic conditions. Bucharest during the Informal Meeting of Ministers of EU member states on 20th May, where I led our country’s delegation. » With this in mind, how stimulating is the framework being created by the state in that sense? For example, we still haven’t Harmonisation with European environmental standards implies seen the state declare insurance against flood damage or weather high initial costs, but saves money over the longer term, stimulates disasters as compulsory. Why? economic growth and employment and - most importantly - improves - This issue doesn’t come under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of quality of life for our citizens. Environmental protection has been

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Environmental Protection, but we are nevertheless working intensively on linking the issue of combatting climate change with reductions in the risk of elemental disasters and catastrophes. We are working on the application of new legal provisions regarding natural disaster risk assessments, both at the national and local levels, including the mapping of risk. We believe that such assessments will be a good basis for making informed decisions about the type of insurance that is most appropriate.

te-public partnership, represents a model good practise example and a world-class project that will bring the best solution to Belgrade and bring order to the issue of waste, and I consider it is an example that can be applied by other regions. » What are practical experiences like to date when it comes to charging for disposable plastic bags, and what effects do you expect from the repurchase of PET packaging? - The campaign of charging for plastic bags is focused on raising public awareness and public attention regarding the problem of plastic pollution. This is just part of solving the issues of bringing order to all waste streams. In communication with the largest retail chains and associations of retailers, which started charging for plastic bags last year, and with the support of citizens, civil society and the media, we succeeded in securing cooperation and understanding for this problem, which resulted in an 80% reduction in their production. We are also determined to address the issue of PET packaging. After an expert debate, we will formulate a proposal for a new system that will be the best solution for Serbia.

» With the support of the Global Environment Fund and the UN Development Programme, you are implementing the project “Local Development Resistant to Climate Change”. How interested and capable are local governments when it comes to delivering what’s expected of them? - We are successfully implementing this project, which is an opportunity for municipalities, the business sector, civil society organisations and the scientific research community to combine forces in responding to the challenges of climate change, safeguarding the lives of people and providing encouragement to economic development through innovative solutions. Local self-governments have expressed great interest since the launch of the Public Call. Some 15 local self-governments

» A large number of experts have stated clearly that the energy benefitd of mini hydro power plants (MHPPs) are minimal, while the environmental consequences For the first time after 30 years, we have an opportunity to launch are devastating. What else does the counwork on the design of 359 wastewater treatment systems and try need in order to end this practise? around twenty regional landfill sites - Mini hydro power plants cause damage to the biological balance, especially on small watercourses that are almost streams, and we consider it necessary applied for the Open Data Challenge, with eight of them receiving to ban their construction in the most valuable areas of Serbia. Many an award for innovation, while 16 applied for the Innovation Ideas countries of world and the region have abandoned the construction Challenge and two municipalities received awards, while the awarded of mini hydro hubs. The Ministry is preparing an amendment to the municipalities were joined by another two at the incubation stage. Nature Protection Act with which we are proposing the prohibiting of their construction in protected areas. The idea is that those » The problem of waste is perhaps Serbia’s most visible and most MHPPs that have already been constructed in accordance with rewidespread ecological problem. Do you think the solution for Vinča is the right way for us to respond to resolving the waste gulations to continue functioning, provided they were constructed management issue? in a technically sound way, and for corrections to be made if they - We are working on a new Waste Management Strategy and are were not. Those who still want to build may continue to do so in collaborating closely with local self-governments and regions on unprotected areas, and we would protect the most value parts of the formulating of new solutions and the eliminating of obstacles our nature from further devastation, in a biological, hydrological and problems. The model of the solution in Vinča, which is a privaand geomorphological sense.

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INTERVIEW

Chapter 27 – The Most Technically Complicated Chapter 27 in EU accession negotiations is the most technically complicated and most expensive Chapter – with more than 200 EU regulations waiting to be transposed and implemented

IVAN KARIĆ, STATE SECRETARY AT THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

he Negotiating Group for Chapter 27 is currently in the stage of finalising the Negotiating Position. The official Negotiating Position is planned to be submitted by the end of 2019. A Directive Specific Implementation Plan (DSIP) for the most challenging areas, such as wastewater treatment, waste management and industrial pollution, are also at the stage of being finalised. The mentioned documents will form part of the Negotiating Position, as large financial investments are required that will need transitional periods. DSIPs for all relevant regulations, which will include transitional arrangements, will be adopted by the Government of Serbia in 2019 and sent to European Commission, along with Negotiating Position. Alongside keeping pace with the ongoing transformation of the EU acquis in this area (such as with the Circular Economy Package adopted in 2018), it was noted that the biggest challenge will be the required investment – of more than eight billion euros – for the treatment of waste and wastewater. In the area of wastewater treatment, around 55% of the Serbian population is connected to the wastewater collection system, while only 7.3% of wastewater is treated biologically. It is necessary to construct 359 facilities for wastewater treatment and around 10,000 km of additional infrastructure for wastewater collection. In the area of municipal waste treatment, although

around 30% of generated municipal solid waste is disposed of at 10 sanitary landfills, there are still 3,500 unregulated landfill sites in Serbia. While the current EU requirement is for countries to reach 50% of recycling in this area by 2020, official data for 2016 shows that the percentage of recycling in this area in Serbia stands at only three per cent. In addition to DSIPs, the preparation of the Multi-annual Investment and Financing Plan is underway. It will based on the developed list of infrastructure projects and the criteria for selecting priority projects, harmonising

in the field of horizontal legislation, air protection and chemicals. Negotiating Group 27 is preparing the Negotiating Position transparently, in accordance with the established procedures of the negotiation process itself. In this regard, during the preparation of the Negotiating Position and documents that will form part of the Negotiating Position, Negotiating Group 27 organised a series of meetings with stakeholders (representatives of the civil sector, institutes, university, local government and economy).

The implementation of EU environmental standards, through Chapter 27, will provide clean water and air over the long term, reduce pollution, enriching and diversifying nature, which leads to the preservation of health for our citizens and our children investment needs and available or potential financial resources, and providing a policy proposal for closing the financial gap. Finalisation of the Action Plan for Administrative Capacity Development for Chapter 27 is also ongoing. It will present the state of administrative capacities at the national, provincial and local levels, but also point out employment needs in this area at all levels. With the support of the IPA 2014 project, preparations will be launched in the coming period for another eight DSIPs for directives

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and all relevant institutions are doing their best to ensure the necessary legal acts are approved and measures taken, thus ensuring reforms have long-term benefits for the state and its citizens. The implementation of EU environmental standards, through Chapter 27, will provide clean water and air over the long term, reduce pollution, enriching and diversifying nature, which leads to the preservation of health for our citizens and our children.

GREEN SERBIA

INTERVIEW

We Owe Planet Earth In just five years, as long as it has existed, the Centre for the Promotion of Sustainable Development has developed two projects that have yielded excellent results not only in Serbia, but also around the world. The first is the portal “Balkan Green Energy News”, which has already become a leader in the region, and the other is the project “Women in Sustainable Energy in Southeast Europe”

BRANISLAVA JOVIČIĆ, Centre for the Promotion of Sustainable Development

ranislava Jovičić, who the U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce selected to join the Global Sustainability Leaders programme, is fighting determinedly to connect and network people from around the world, and especially from the region, who advocate strongly for sustainable development in their communities. » We treat nature like an unlimited resource that will always be there, regardless of how much we pollute the water, land and air, regardless of how many forests we clear-cut... We don’t perceive it as an asset, which is why we don’t protect it. Can that change? - It is true that people today act irresponsibly towards nature and don’t consider the consequences of impacting negatively on the environment. The concept of sustainable development, although it is increasingly discussed, is still not fully accepted, and some basic knowledge about it is lacking. In order for us to better understand sustainable development and know how to

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recognise how some of our activities impact on nature, other sectors, and the general quality of life of people in the immediate area or globally, because nature knows no borders, and nor does pollution, the chances of life on the planet again being suited to humans would be much higher. We found out just a few days ago that the citizens of the European Union had incurred an environmental debt to the planet as early as 10th May. This means that by that date they’d already utilised all the ecological resources that the planet’s ecosystems can renew over the course of one year, as early as seven months and 20 days before the end of the calendar year! This date shifts every year, with the date of entering ecological debt arriving ever earlier. The problem is that, when it comes to an ecological debt, there is no bank that can refinance people’s debt towards the planet until a way is found to allow ecologically neutral development in accordance with the principles

of sustainable development, but not the corporate marketing kind, rather the true and essential kind. Change is possible, examples of good practise in the responsible management of and relations towards the environment exist, but they relate mainly to economically powerful countries. However, it is essential for change to also occur in less developed countries, as well for three important elements to be provided: a legislative framework, financing and knowhow. A change of consciousness is also needed, and in the case of Serbia and the countries of the region – which are, compared to EU member states, in the category of “poor relatives from the village” – this means that we should create change for our own needs, and not because the European Union is seeking that we do that. The concept of a host who manages his estate responsibly, has a vision and works hard to provide a better, green and sustainable future for himself and his children is a concept that the countries of the region – with honourable exceptions – are struggling to accept.

on social networks by decision makers from the region, representatives of municipalities and cities; we are read by the business community, academia, civil society organisations, financial organisations, investors, citizens, and colleagues from other media outlets in search of good information and stories. As someone who deals with communications and who maps interested sections of the public for clients and projects on an almost daily basis, I knew very well who would find our portal a useful tool. We have strived tried to ensure quality of information

» Your NGO, the Centre for the Promotion of Sustainable Development, has been involved intensively in promoting sustainable energy, climate action and environmental protection since 2014. Are you satisfied with your achievements? - Yes, very! In the five years since the organisation was founded, we’ve developed two projects and and work reaches these people, but they also found us themselves while searching for a reliable source of information. The second project that we’ve implemented is “WISE - Women in Sustainable Energy, Southeast Europe”, which set up and overviewed the nexus of women - sustainable energy - climate change - the environment. Within the scope this project, we conducted the first survey among women who deal with these issues professionally, with the goal of overviewing their role, position and attitudes, but also among women in households from the perspective of consumers. This research showed us, for example, that women strongly support the widespread use of renewable energy sources, that they would rather buy electric cars if they were supported by the state through subsidies, but also

The WISE SEE project will also have a regional component, which will certainly help in its expansion to several other countries both have achieved excellent results, not only in Serbia, but also around the world. The first project is the “Balkan Green Energy News” portal. The idea for this project emerged out of the period when I was doing my master’s thesis that dealt with the role and significance of PR in the promotion of renewable energy sources. In a study then conducted by consulting firm Ecorys, I found that the lack of information regarding RES represents one of the main non-financial obstacles on route to promoting RES. I added two and two, conducted research, and found that the same situation regarding the availability of information was a problem not only in the EU, but also in the region of Southeast Europe. The “Balkan Green Energy News” portal is today the leading free bilingual portal in the region; it is an online platform and meeting place for all those who are relevant and important for this region when it comes to sustainable energy, climate change, the environment and mobility. Our portal is read and monitored

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that female entrepreneurs and women in agribusiness are very interested in finding out about the possibilities of applying green technologies in their business or how to improve energy efficiency. Within the framework of the WISE project, we also created a database of nearly 200 women who deal with these topics professionally and who have different vocations: engineering, technical, economic, legal, social; women engaged in communication, media, academia, politics etc.

in the millions, while ours is who knows how many times smaller. Last year I was also selected by the U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce to join the Global Sustainability Leaders programme, which connects and networks people from around the world who advocate strongly for sustainable development in their communities. This is a small step for humanity, but a great one for me personally.

» With the exception of a lack of money, what are the biggest obstacles in promoting “green topics”, whether that » Can the WISE SEE project be expanded means recycling, renewable energy, to the entire region? energy efficiency etc.? - That was the idea when we planned - I don’t think money is an obstacle. Mothe WISE SEE project, but as we are a ney is offered by international financial small organisation, we didn’t manage institutions and local commercial banks, to immediately receive the funds for it is in EU pre-accession funds and in the a regional project, so we focused on budget, but some topics are obstacles, Serbia. At this moment we are planning and some are not in the focus of interest to continue the project in Serbia and of our decision makers. And that’s where we’re in the final phase of preparations the problem is with green topics. and have already two excellent partners. Politicians don’t see environmental It is important to connect women protection as an important topic; our from the region who deal with sustaienergy establishment views renewable nable energy, climate change and the energy sources and energy efficiency as environment, for them to network and necessary evils, and not as a chance to get the opportunity for their voice to make the energy mix green, to reduce be heard, to be better represented harmful emissions of gases from outdain the media, and to advocate more ted thermal power plants, to rebuild one intensively for an energy transition. reversible hydroelectric plant in Serbia, This is very important, because our to introduce gauges... challenges are similar, air pollution is This lingering narrative, which sees the future of Serbia in waning coal reserSerbia needs an agency for the sustainable development ves and barely accepts new technologies of energy or climate action that would deal with the promoting and solutions, which sees a huge problem of green topics for the network in balancing energy with wind and solar, while on the other hand we promote ourselves as a “digital nation of innovation”, is an high (the list of the most polluted cities includes three from our incomprehensible and unacceptable situation for us. region: Sarajevo, Skopje and Belgrade), and we haven’t embraced Abolishing the Energy Efficiency Agency was wrong, as it could the energy transition and don’t even use it to the extent that we have taken charge of promoting green topics, sustainable energy could and should. development and climate action. We haven’t had a single national campaign in Serbia promoting renewable energy, educating the » What are you particularly proud of in your work to date? population on the possibilities of applying green technologies - I’m particularly proud of the excellent results that the “Balkan and advancing energy efficiency in businesses and households. Green Energy News” portal has achieved. Last year, under the auIt is thus not surprising that Serbia is a country where not one spices of the platform “Best Climate Solutions 2018 Award”, the energy cooperative project has been implemented, that not a single portal was selected as one of the 42 best projects in the world in call has been announced at the national level for subsidising solar the field of climate change communications, which is a great result! panels in households, that subsidies have not yet been introduced After the vote, which included the participation of people from all for the purchase of electric vehicles, that it hasn’t been possible over the world, the project took 4th place, which for us shone with for years to introduce primary waste separation and that there are a golden glow, because it is an outstanding success to be fourth hundreds of similar problems and similar issues. in the world and compete with some projects that have budgets

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BUSINESS

Eating Away The Greenhouse Effect Swiss company BASNA d.o.o. (Ltd.) located in Serbia, has specialised in producing a semi activated charcoal that is designed specifically for applications as an animal feed additive

deal pore size and pore distribution, as well as extra high carbon content, makes this charcoal specific in supporting animal growth. The effects in the animal are improved health and the balanced coexistence of microorganisms in the stomach. The animal’s body can “concentrate” on its main tasks, like “growing” and “metabolising food”, instead of fighting disturbances caused by illnesses or toxins. The charcoal can be applied to all kind of animals, such as pigs, cows, chickens and fish. As a result, the administering of antibiotics can be reduced and there is a clear improvement in meat quality: reduced medical and antibiotic residue, better meat-fat ratio, more unsaturated fatty acids and less cholesterol. For the farmer, there are many immediate positive knock-on effects, like reduced odours in stables and easier handling of manure due to its homogeneous texture. However, the more important effects from an economic perspective are an increased fodder conversion rate and reduced veterinary costs. Furthermore, the charcoal doesn’t disintegrate in the intestines, but rather accumulates in the manure, where it is charged with essential plant nutrients and improves the fertilising effect over the long term. Eventually spread on the field, it builds up humus and equilibrates humidity during dry periods.

info@basna.net

SEMI ACTIVATED CHARCOAL SHOWS AN INTERNAL SURFACE AREA OF 400M2/G. IT HAS EXCELLENT ADSORPTION AFFINITY FOR TOXINS

It also prevents pesticides and nitrates from leaking into groundwater. Looking at the big picture of applying charcoal to animal feed, it has a positive impact on the Greenhouse Effect by sequestering CO2 from the air. During the growth of a tree, for example, CO2 from the atmosphere is assimilated into plant material via photosynthesis. The tree (its wood) will later be converted into charcoal. In this process, the C-atom from the assimilated CO2 is embedded in the carbon grid of the charcoal and ends up in a very

stable form. At high carbonisation temperatures, the charcoal will not disintegrate for centuries – not even in an animal’s body. Moreover, free energy can be exploited during the carbonisation process and used to produce heat or electricity. As a whole, this concept is not only “Carbon Zero”, but actually “Carbon Negative”! The application of semi activated charcoal can shift the reputation of agriculture from being the scapegoat for many environmental problems to actively contributing to a healthier environment on the basis of climate farming. By integrating charcoal into the production processes, in Central Europe there are already entire farms sequestering more CO2 from the atmosphere than they emit into the atmosphere. The input of pesticides and mineral fertiliser is reduced, while quality and quantity of their product output is improved. The application of semi activated charcoal can contribute to fight a wide range of the major environmental problems confronting our civilisation. Not only can the Greenhouse Effect be reduced, but waste management can also be optimised. The use of antibiotics, pesticides and fungicides can be minimised, while the leaking of harmful substances into groundwater can be avoided and the energy – consuming mineral fertilisers can be substituted – all that, while producing renewable energy simultaneously.

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BUSINESS

Can - Packaging As The Most Important Environmental Ally This “green planet” has been our home for millions of years. It is a home to which civilisation has not paid enough attention, which is why one of the main efforts of modern society is directed towards restoring the planet to its authentic condition – without waste and pollution JELENA KIŠ, SUSTAINABILITY AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS MANAGER AT BALL

oreign companies that are leaders in their business segments are doing business in Serbia and are very vocal when it comes to environmental protection. “Our approach to sustainability balances economic, social and environmental impacts. We have been exerting efforts for Ball to be the top-of-mind choice and to provide a solution to the problem of plastic pollution, and to help our customers achieve their own sustainability agenda. The Ball Corporation recently took on an obligation to use 100% of energy from renewable sources in the U.S. by 2021. In this way, we additionally support energy efficiency and once again pledge to make the aluminium can the most sustainable packaging in the world,” says Jelena Kiš, Ball’s sustainability and regulatory affairs manager.

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The battle for “zero waste” is gaining momentum. An especially animated fight is being led for “zero plastic”, with the European Parliament recently adopting a decision to ban single-use plastic, which includes 10 items – namely Q-tips, straws and plastic cutlery – as of 2021. “We have been engaged on education for years, and exerting efforts to raise awareness about the need to recycle. We choose the can because the advantages of beverage cans are really incredible – a can that has been made of a single material can be recycled regardless of design and size, while collection and recycling processes are simple and cheaper, and rely on already-existing infrastructure. Additionally, a metal can be endlessly recycled without losing on quality,

and a new can can reappear on the shelves just 60 days after the start of the recycling process. It is important to highlight that 74 per cent of aluminium cans are currently recycled in Europe, while the plan is to increase this level to 90 per cent in the next ten years. Compared to other materials used for packaging, used aluminium has a price several times higher and practically pays out the entire collection and recycling process.” Across the globe, the can is becoming increasingly popular as packaging for beverages, as it is recognised as a response to increasing concerns about the harmfulness of plastic packaging. “In all countries in which Ball does business, we spread the idea of recycling, together with our customers. Intense campaigns promoting recycling as a lifestyle, which serve to educate the wider public in that direction, have been Ball’s trademark for years, within the campaigns of the Recan Fund and “Every Can Counts” programmes. We had an excellent campaign at last year’s Belgrade Beer Festival – we designed a special can for draft beer from the Craft Zone and thus prevented the use of 100,000 plastic cups, which cannot be recycled and would require hundreds of years to biodegrade.”

The management of packaging waste is a topic that’s ever more frequently discussed in our country, and has even prompted headlines related to the existing EPR system. It is all very topical due to accession negotiations with the European Union and Chapter 27, related to environmental protection. “The possibility of introducing a deposit system has been discussed. However, the existing EPR is achieving national targets for the gathering and recycling of packaging waste in Serbia. SEPEN members prepared a study on packaging waste that concluded that it is necessary to improve the existing packaging waste management system with an additional investment totalling around 200 million euros over the next ten years, which would enable the gathering and recycling of around 64 per cent of packaging waste. On the other hand, the introduction and functioning of a deposit system would cost Serbia’s citizens 1.1 billion euros and would only improve collections of packaging waste by 10 per cent.”

The aforementioned study was realised by Deloitte and suggests that, in order to improve the existing system, a functional system of inspection oversight should be introduced, along with the introduction of the same rules

ling, new business models and a different approach to packaging design in order to adjust it to an easier collecting, sorting and viable recycling process. We have for years been implementing the programme “Every

for all participants, the obliging of households to sort out their waste and the inclusion of the informal sector in the existing system. “Comprehensive support to the circular economy is necessary. It does not end with recycling, but rather includes overall recyc-

Can Counts” in Serbia, trying to help people recycle their cans whether they are at an event, in their office or at a shopping centre. With us, you can start implementing new habits within your companies and can launch recycling as soon as tomorrow,” concludes Kiš.

GREEN SERBIA

INTERVIEW

Protecting Nature & Applying Global Multilateral Agreements The area of nature protection is encompassed, at the national level, by the legislative framework for environmental protection that has its basis in the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, provisions that define citizens' right to a healthy environment, as well as the duty of citizens to protect and improve the environment, in accordance with the law

JASMINA JOVIÄ&#x2020;, Assistant Minister in

the Sector for Nature Protection and Climate Change, Ministry of Environmental Protection

he basic principles for protecting and improving nature are provided in the Law on Environmental Protection. This law regulates the management of natural resources, then preventative measures and environmental protection conditions, as well as remedial measures; a system for issuing environmental permits and approvals; access to information and the participation of the public in decision-making and other forms of environmental protection. The Nature Protection Act regulates the protection and conservation of nature, including biological, geological and landscape diversity. Alongside the aforementioned laws, a number of other laws exist that are relevant to the area of nature protection, especially in the domain of using and protecting forestry, hunting, fishing and genetic resources for food and agriculture. The strategic framework for nature protection is defined through strategic documents and the Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment to EU accession, via the National

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Programme for Environmental Protection and through sector-specific strategies (agriculture, forestry, energy etc.). Nature protection, which knows no borders, is largely based on generally accepted global and regional instruments that are aimed at harmonising the needs of different countries by adopting common protection measures, as well as the methods and order of their implementation. Global and regional multilateral agreements in the field of nature protection (commonly referred to as conventions) are precisely the result of cooperation between states that are signatories to these agreements, and they impact on the uniform and timely harmonisation of the application of measures for the protection of nature via the adopting of common standards and the developing of harmonised legislation in this field. The Convention on Biological Diversity was adopted at the 1992 World Summit on Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection held in Brazil and was signed by 168 countries, including the then Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Convention entered into force on 29th December 1993, while Serbia ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity on 3rd January 2002, with its Law Confirming the Ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The basic objectives and principles of this convention relate to the preservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of components of biodiversity and the balanced sharing of benefits arising

this protocol. These provisions on harmonisation, as well as provisions that establish foreseeable conditions for access to genetic resources will contribute to ensuring the equitable distribution of benefits when genetic resources leave the Party that provides genetic resources. Member states of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity for the 2011-2020 period at the tenth meeting of the Members Conference that was held in Nagoya, Japan, in 2010. This plan aims to encourage the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity throughout the decade in all countries and among all stakeholders, as well as the inclusion of biodiversity issues in other sectors. This strategic plan comprises a common vision and mission, strategic areas and 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets. The Serbian Ministry of Environmental Protection continuously monitors all internationally accepted goals, defines national goals, measures and activities, and continuously develops and improves the strategic, legislative and institutional framework for their implementation. The Ministry has also planned to conduct significant capacity building activities through the creating of a large number of new jobs that are primarily intended for new expert personnel who will be ready to contribute to implementing these very ambitious goals. It should always be considered that citizens’ constitutionally guaranteed right to a healthy environment is equally The opportunity to significantly link the country's economic as important as their socio-economic situation. If we lag behind in implemendevelopment to the protection of its natural heritage mustn't ting internationally accepted standards be missed, in order for us, as a society, not to find ourselves in a of nature protection, we can reach a situation where we later have to finance the restoring of those situation in which the effects of econoassets that we've already lost once mic growth are no longer sufficient for ensuring favourable living conditions for the population, and for the costs of conserving nature to of Serbia also adopted the Law on Confirmation of the Nagoya increase to incalculable levels. In contrast to this, it has been Protocol and the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia proven that investments in nature conservation can represent took responsibility for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits strong economic potential, especially for the development of arising from their utilisation. This Protocol significantly improves local communities in areas that cannot be covered by conventhe third objective of the Convention by securing a solid basis for tional industrial development due to a lack of infrastructure. greater legal certainty and the transparency of both the providers The opportunity to significantly link the country’s economic and users of genetic resources. development to the protection of its natural heritage mustn’t Specific obligations that relate to support in harmonising be missed, in order for us, as a society, not to find ourselves in national legislation and regulatory requirements for those proa situation where we later have to finance the restoring of those viding genetic resources and contractual obligations confirmed assets that we’ve already lost once. under mutually agreed conditions are significant innovations of from the use of genetic resources and the biotechnology based on them. The obligations of member states as defined by the Convention are to harmonise existing national strategies, plans or programmes for the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity and to integrate principles of the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity into relevant sector-based or cross-sector plans, programmes and policies. Within the scope of the Convention, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety was adopted, as well as the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation-ABS. The Cartagena Protocol regulates conditions for the protection of biodiversity against potential risks caused by living modified organisms (LMOs) or genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which can result from the application of modern biotechnologies.This is an international agreement that’s aimed at ensuring the safe handling, transport and use of LMOs that are created by modern biotechnology and that can have a negative impact on biodiversity, also taking into account risks to human health. With the adoption of the Law on the Confirmation of the Ratification of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity, with annexes, the Republic of Serbia became an official member of the Cartagena Protocol in 2005. In September 2018, the Republic

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INTERVIEW

International Cooperation On Environmental Protection By its nature, the environment extends beyond political and legal frameworks, and other boundaries created by man. International and cross-border cooperation between countries is vital if we want to address challenges that impact on all of us. These challenges vary from droughts and floods, to pollution and threats to the richness of biodiversity

BILJANA FILIPOVIĆ-ĐUŠIĆ, Minister’s Deputy, Sector for International Cooperation and European integration, Ministry for Environmental Protection

ooperation on environmental protection is a significant means of ensuring peace and the road to strengthening international relations in the region, which is necessary to all countries for the purposes of development and the implementation of European environmental standards. Improving the quality of the environment, protecting human health, wisely and rationally utilising natural resources and improving measures to address global and regional problems represent the most important goals of bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the field of environmental protection. The Republic of Serbia recognises the importance of cooperation between countries, both at the global and regional levels, which is testified to, among other things, by the formation of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, as a separate department within the Government of Serbia, with direct jurisdiction to deal with matters in this very important area. With an awareness of the importance of orderly environments, the Ministry is dedicated to finding long-term sustainable and cost-effective solutions for their protection, as well as a response to climate change. Through intense and successful international activities, it has imposed itself as a leader of the Western Balkan region with the intention of contributing further to strengthening political dialogue and improving

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cooperation on issues of vital interest, such as the reduction of pollution to water, air, land and natural resources, and the fight against climate change. The Ministry of Environmental Protection develops bilateral cooperation, investing a lot of time and energy into building and improving relations with all interested countries and partners. Cooperation is most intensive with countries in the immediate neighbourhood. Trilateral cooperation is significant between the Republic of Serbia, Montenegro and Republika Srpska, aimed at continuing dialogue in the creation and implementation of environmental policy, especially in solving problems in the basin of the River Drina. On the international front, stand out events include numerous bilateral activities and meetings with representatives of the region, Europe and the world stand. Minister Trivan’s meetings with senior representatives of countries like Germany, France, Japan, Czechia, the U.S., Korea, China, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria and the countries of the region have contributed to the signing of various agreements and protocols on cooperation, with the aim of protecting the environment and exchanging information, experiences and good practise. Serbia is a signatory to numerous multilateral agreements in this area, which play a key role in the overall legislative framework and which, together with international environmental conventions, represent the most significant global efforts to address certain environmental problems. The country is a member of many international organisations and institutions, as well as the Bureau and working body in the scope of the UN system, which further contributes to it being recognised as a significant partner in international relations.

The previous period was marked by very important international activities of the Ministry of Environmental Protection that pointed to the fact that Serbia is striving to leapfrog the years of lagging behind on environmental issues and turn towards the future, relying on an innovative approach and new technological solutions. The most significant international event contributing to Serbia being set high on the bar of countries that are recognised as leaders in regional cooperation initiatives was certainly the Ministerial Conference held in Belgrade last December, under the organisation of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the UNEP Programme and the Government of Italy, entitled “Innovative Solutions for Reducing Pollution in Western Balkan Countries”, which mostly brought together representatives of the countries of Southern and Southeast Europe. Serbia advocates for new technological solutions and an innovative approach to economic growth that are essential for social and economic development that would ensure the reduction of pollution and preserving of resources. The high level of cooperation between all representatives of the countries on issues of mutual interest, as well as the overlapping “Common Vision”, which – as a result of this Conference – was presented in March 2019 at the UN General Assembly in Nairobi (UNEA 4), testifies enough to the importance of this conference and Serbia’s dedication to developing this international process. The election of Environmental Protection Minister Goran Trivan as one of the vice presidents of the Fifth Session of the Assembly for the Environment (UNEA 5, 2021), in Nairobi, is a great honour and acknowledgement for the Republic of Serbia, for it to be recognised around the world for its contribution to regional and global efforts in the struggle for the environment. Continuing with regional initiatives and cooperation, a delegation of the Ministry of Environment Protection participated in a ministerial conference in Tirana in April 2019, entitled “Regional Climate Action in the Western Balkans”, once again linking political leaders of the region for the purpose of agreeing on joint activities and approaching funds intended for activities in the fight against climate change. The importance of environmental protection as an instrument for achie-

ving development and improving living conditions and human health was emphasised, but at the same time also enhancing peace, stability and security in the region. The accepted Declaration on Joint Climate Change Activities in the Western Balkans Region, and the agreement to devise a “Joint Roadmap for the Region to accelerate the process of accessing sources of funding in the area of climate change”, will enable the continuation of links and common actions of countries to adapt to new climatic conditions. Apart from cooperation with countries in the immediate region, the Ministry also focuses on broader cooperation, such as cooperation with South Korea and China, with whom it is possible to develop cooperative projects in the area of environmental protection, as well as exchanging knowledge, experience, technology and innovative solutions. Within the framework of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which is primarily aimed at connecting Asia and Europe, but which is also open to countries of other continents, Serbia has been participating since the start, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection has instigated activities for potential future cooperation with relevant Chinese institutions in the field of the environment, which will include different areas – from water and land protection, via biodiversity, to climate change. It is significant to note the achievements of cooperation between China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the so-called “16+1 Cooperation”, which is on its way to becoming an influential platform for inter-regional cooperation. The Ministerial Conference “Endowment of the Future”, held in Podgorica in September 2018, saw the establishing of the Mechanism for Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Protection, which implies political dialogue, technological exchanges and industrial cooperation in order to establish cooperation between the 17 countries and support national goals in the field of environmental protection. Significant international environmental protection initiatives in which Serbia actively participates, such as the European Environment and Health Process, the Pan-European Transport, Health and Environment Programme and many others, have also contributed to Serbia being spoken of in the context of an ambitious and responsible member state.

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NEWS EU

Norway

Europe is using up natural resources so quickly that the planet’s ability to replenish itself over the year would be exhausted by this Friday if everyone consumed as much, a new analysis has found. It would take 2.8 planets to extend the EU’s rate of consumption of fuels, food, fibres, land and timber to all the world’s people, according to data collected by WWF and the Global Footprint Network. The alarming report follows a warning from a UN panel that the scale and pace of biodiversity loss is now endangering the foundations of human society itself.

From 1 January 2020, 0.5 per cent of aviation fuel sold in Norway will be advanced biofuels, and the regulatory changes will be introduced in the Product Regulation. Advanced biofuel is a climatefriendly fuel, which will contribute to reaching Norway’s climate targets. “The decision to introduce a requirement is good for the climate, good for the environment and helps accommodate for Norwegian production of advanced biofuels,” the Minister of Climate and Environment, Ola Elvestuen says. The Government has set ambitious targets for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector in Norway. The target is to halve the emissions from this sector by 2030, and the government has set an ambitious target that at least 30 per cent of the aviation fuels sold in 2030 will be biofuels.

Europe Exploits A Fifth Of Its Bio Capacity

Germany

Exceeded 100% Demand From Renewables… For A Few Hours Official data from Germany’s Federal Network Agency has suggested that renewable energy provided more than 100 percent of the country’s power. The symbolic step took place during May Day when renewable output, bolstered by a bright and blustery public holiday, reached 53,987 megawatt hours (MWh) of power, consumption was at 53,768 MWh. Reports from the agency suggest that renewables maintained the high level of generation for about 2 and half hours during the middle of the day. At their height, onshore and offshore wind farms were generating 27,246MWh, or 52 percent of all power; solar panels reached 19,668MWh, representing 37 percent. Hydropower and biomass filled in the rest. France

The World’s First 'Fully Recycled' Road French company Vinci has built the world’s first stretch of motorway made entirely from recycled road materials. The “fully recycled road” is a kilometre long and is part of the A10 motorway between Pons and Saint Aubin in southwest France. It was built by two subsidiaries of Vinci Construction, Eurovia and Vinci Autoroutes. The construction of the mobile plant was central to the project’s success as it had previously been impossible to produce asphalt mixes with 100% recycled content outside of regular plants. As a result, the 3,000 tonnes of material used for the kilometre of road were created on site. This is of course not the first time recycled materials have been used in road construction. However, this new French road is different as it is the first time a motorway has been entirely made out of recycled roads. This research project won the ‘Route to the Future’ award by the French Environment & Energy Management Agency.

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More Advanced Biofuel In Aviation

Hotbed Of Climate Change Denial The US is a hotbed of climate science denial when compared with other countries, with international polling finding a significant number of Americans do not believe human-driven climate change is occurring. A total of 13% of Americans polled in a 23-country survey conducted by the YouGov-Cambridge Globalism Project agreed with the statement that the climate is changing “but human activity is not responsible at all”. A further 5% said the climate was not changing. Only Saudi Arabia (16%) and Indonesia (18%) had a higher proportion of people doubtful of manmade climate change.

BUSINESS

JUPOL Travels, JUPOL Connects Company JUB has marked the 50th anniversary of its JUPOL brand with birthday celebrations across all markets on which it operates, via its subsidiaries

n Serbia, the JUPOL car greeted citizens of Prijepolje, Priboj, Zlatibor, Požega, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Niš, Negotin, Belgrade, Obrenovac, Novi Sad and Subotica. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the JUPOL brand, company JUB equipped a Nissan Navara vehicle that toured many of the region’s cities, bringing good wishes, positive thoughts and happiness to those most in need. JUB’s celebrations were launched on 21st March, with a journey

through North Macedonia, after which it continued its travels to the markets of Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina during April. The car then visited Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia during May, with the tour culminating in Slovenia in early June – after travelling a total of 5,000 kilometres. Many of those who followed the JUPOL tour took advantage of the opportunity to offer recognition for the brand’s achie-

vements and results recorded to date by writing greeting cards or birthday messages via the JUB website. All greetings and congratulatory messages were subsequently collected on the website www.jupol50.rs, with the most interesting shared via social networks under the hashtag #JUPOL50. The JUPOL car called in at important retail spots across the region, organising attractive games, creative workshops, gatherings and birthday cake tastings.

Philosophise GREEN!

he Eco-Kids adventure is a concept of educational teaching that includes the fields of biology, ecology and environmental protection, and which is intended for boys and girls of preschool and school age. Within education, the imperative is given to interactive learning and research. With scientific collaborators, young children receive complete information about the main segment of natural laws, which are crucial for nature conservation. These Green heroes – Eco-Kids – see their own roles and tasks perhaps a lot better and more responsibly than adults, and that

is exactly what they should do, by themselves – to convey a message about the preserving of nature and the environment. The Eco-Kids adventure is education with environmental values, which will hopefully awaken some new ways for future doctors, engineers, bakers, designers, journalists, artists... The Eco-Kids adventure is a new wave of education that has a clear message: philosophise GREEN! The Eco-Kids Superheroes programme is designed for children, which represent the key generation for changing the relations of habits regarding the environment and

natural resources, and by investing in their knowledge and skills we can expect changes in values regarding the anthropogenic influences, i.e. human impact, on nature and ecosystems. www.avantura-zelembaca.edu.rs

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BUSINESS

Responsible Business Contributes To Environmental Protection Transparency in the daily work and communication, respect for the individual, local community and society, passion for quality and corporate social responsibility present the core values of the company

HEINEKEN is a proud, independent and responsible global brewer. Today, HEINEKEN is the number one brewer in Europe and the number two brewer in the world. It has operations in more than 70 countries globally, which makes it the world’s most international brewer. HEINEKEN has been operating in Serbia for more than ten years. Along with brewing great beers, HEINEKEN Serbia builds great brands and is committed to surprising & exciting its consumers and beer lovers all over Serbia. Through its global strategy “Brewing a Better World”, sustainability is embedded in the business and delivers value for all the stakeholders. To ensure the company addresses the most important issues for the business and all its partners, HEINEKEN Serbia defines its Brewing a Better World priorities through open and ongoing conversations and engagement – both internally and externally. HEINEKEN Serbia is committed to innovation, long-term brand investment, disciplined sales execution and focused cost management. By doing so, we have an opportunity to use

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our business as a positive force for change. Helping communities prosper is good for society, and it is also good for our company. As a socially responsible company and employer, our biggest contribution to the social and economic wellbeing of community we operate in, is through our core business the jobs we create, the businesses we support and the taxes we pay, whereas simultaneously investing in local community initiatives that

three artesian fountains in the town of Zajecar, where we brew our famous Zajecarsko beer. Dating from late 19th and early 20th century, they represent a legacy to citizens of Zajecar who have used these fountains as places to meet and socialize for generations. MAKING RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION COOL Beer is a natural fermented drink that, when enjoyed in moderation, can be part of a

HEINEKEN has been operating in Serbia for more than ten years. Along with brewing great beers, HEINEKEN Serbia builds great brands and is committed to surprising & exciting its consumers and beer lovers all over Serbia support our strategy and sustainability commitments via either direct local contributions or shared-value projects. HISTORICAL ARTESIAN FOUNTAINS In partnership with local government, NGO and the Ministry of Environment, we revitalized

balanced lifestyle. However, when alcohol is not consumed responsibly, there are clear health and behavioral risks. For some people and on some occasions, it is better not to drink at all. We, in HEINEKEN Serbia, are committed to promoting responsible consumption and to using the power of the global Heineken®

brand to make moderation cool. Every year, we direct 10% of media spend to promoting responsible drinking – with the focus on ‘When You Drive, Never Drink.’ To make moderation cool, we promote our message through various social responsible campaigns in cooperation with the Universities, National Road Traffic Safety Agency and Public Transport company so as to reach the young, educate them and provide a proposition for safe return home at the biggest festivals in Serbia. ‘Guys, who’s driving home? , our nationally recognized and awarded public campaign is organized during the festival season, in which for the last six years more than 210,000 people were transported home safely. As a part of our ‘When You Drive, Never Drink’ campaign we organized workshops for university students with the support of influencers emphasising

risks of drinking and driving. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to addressing alcohol abuse and therefore we’re involved in local partnerships, working with local government, NGOs and other stakeholders to respond to local needs and customs so as to spread the responsible consumption message to the widest audience in Serbia.

We are proud of the result of more than 600 days without any employees’ accidents at our brewery in Novi Sad, and more than 3 years in our brewery in Zaječar.

SAFE EVERY DAY Our peoples’ safety is the most important and it requires constant effort. Our goal is simple: zero fatalities and ‘Safety First’ is our number one company behavior. The 12 HEINEKEN Life Saving Rules help us to achieve it. They set out clear and simple ‘do’s and ‘don’ts’ for our highest-risk activities. We identify high safety risk areas across our business and implement actions to tackle them, with a special focus on road safety.

’LET’S OPEN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM TOGETHER’ CAMPAIGN In 2018, we launched this unique campaign with our Zaječarsko beer. Every can of beer sold raised funds to support the renovation of the National Museum of Serbia, which has been closed for 15 years. A limited edition Zaječarsko highlighted the works of exquisite Serbian painters. We collected almost €50,000 for the reopening of this outstanding national cultural institution.

ABOUT THE COMPANY HEINEKEN is the world’s most international brewer and the leading developer and marketer of premium beer and cider brands. Led by the Heineken® brand, the Group has a powerful portfolio of more than 250 international, regional, local and speciality beers and ciders. We are committed to innovation, long-term brand investment, disciplined sales execution and focused cost management. Through “Brewing a Better World”, sustainability is embedded in the business and delivers value for all stakeholders. HEINEKEN has a well-balanced geographic footprint, with leadership positions on both developed and developing markets. We employ approximately 85,000 people and operate 170 breweries, malteries, cider plants and other production facilities in more than 70 countries. HEINEKEN Srbija represents a brewer actively operating via two breweries. While the brewery in Zaječar is proud of its longstanding tradition and brewing expertise dating back to 1895, the Novi Sad brewery is one of the most technologically advanced and modern breweries in the region. The Company’s core business is the production, distribution and sale of beer. The portfolio of brands comprises: Heineken, Heineken 0.0, Amstel Premium Pilsener, Kapuziner Weissbier, Krušovice Svetle, Sol, Zaječarsko, Zaječarsko Crno, Zaječarsko Pšenično, PilsPlus, Master and cider Bandit. Transparency in its daily work and communication, respect for the individual, local community and society, passion for quality and corporate social responsibility represent the company’s core values. www.heinekensrbija.rs

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INTERVIEW

Managing Municipal Waters In Serbia There are about 45 existing municipal wastewater treatment facilities in Serbia, a very small number of which are functioning, and only a few fully satisfy all modern standards of environmental protection

FILIP ABRAMOVIĆ, Assistant Minister, Waste and Wastewater Department, Ministry of Environmental Protection

he need for reconstructed and technologically advanced sewage systems and the construction of wastewater treatment facilities is very high, because the total length of sewage collectors, according to the Statistical Office of Serbia, is 16,000 kilometres, while about four million inhabitants (57%) are connected to public water collection, drainage and wastewater systems, which testifies to the fact that sewage systems – and particularly sewage treatment plants – aren’t sufficiently developed. In a financial sense, according to data of the Republic Directorate from 2017, funds needed for works on atmospheric sewage and channelling and water protection through the treatment of municipal wastewater in the period up to 2034 amount to around €9.3 billion. Apart from securing the required funds, the biggest problem generally in preparations for constructing the systems of plants themselves is an insufficiently updated and comprehensive information system and accurate dana, as well as insufficient preparedness of technical project documentation. For these reasons, the Ministry of Environmental Protection has

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exerted great efforts and established good cooperation with local government units and a very detailed information base on the situation in the field, and a study is in the course of being conducted in the field of wastewater management across the entire territory of the Republic of Serbia, with which will all data will be rounded up and consolidated, as well as the exact situation and needs to work further on organising the actual construction of plants. The purpose of conducting this study is to provide comprehensive insight into the status of municipal wastewater management in local government units on the territory of the Republic of Serbia and encompass the following activities: determining the status of sewage and collection systems in local government units that include the state and age of the sewage network, the level of coverage of the sewage network, the state and age of the constructed main collectors and estimates of the required financial resources and time frame for construction of the complete sewage network. Likewise, determining the current status and existing models of

managing municipal wastewater treatment facilities that also encompass financial analysis of the operations of existing wastewater treatment facilities, financing methods – tariff revenues, other sources of financing, and then maintenance costs – energy consumption, the applying of energy sustainability principles, technical maintenance, staffing costs and the cost-effectiveness of the plant itself. Also analysed is the efficiency itself of wastewater treatment plants, in terms of plant capacity in population equivalents, with the plant to expand capacity of the central plant if one exists, the effective operation of the plant throughout the year in relation to the envisaged capacity, the identification of problems in achieving maximisation of the expected capacity, the quantity of leaked wastewater, the amount of sludge generated and disposal method, the degree to which wastewater is treated and the number of planned remote plants and their capacity. After that is a proposal itself for short- and long-term measures for

up to the issuance of a permit and the launch of works. The conditions to apply for the drafting of technical project documentation that had to be met by local government units was that they had settled all public service obligations, that they had not been allocated funds for the same purposes from the budget of the Republic of Serbia or the budget of the autonomous province, that they had completed a General Regulation Plan (PGR), that the location earmarked for the construction of the wastewater treatment plant is owned by the local government unit and that more than 60% of the associated sewage network for which technical project documentation must be prepared has already been built. This was necessary in order to produce valid technical project documentation that’s ready for the actual start of works. I would also note that the Ministry will control all technical project documentation in order for the proposed technological solutions to first follow and choose the best in terms of environment, proven in practise and economically viable, and then to harmonise both the output product – According to data of the Republic Directorate from 2017, funds sludge – and standardise it by composition needed for works on atmospheric sewage and channelling and and usability, and upon emerging it became water protection through the treatment of municipal wastewater a usable component rather than a new in the period up to 2034 amount to around €9.3 billion problem, new waste for disposal. In this sense, the Ministry has also developed its Strategy for Managing Waste Sludge achieving the sustainable management of municipal wastewater. and thus rounded off the entire process and procedure in the sense of On the other hand, the Ministry of Environment Protection has also a complete solution for the best environmental protection. begun providing tangible assistance in the form of expert assistance to At the same time, intensive work is also being done on creating a local government units aimed at strengthening the capacities of local model and securing the financial resources essential for the construction governments and strengthening local development in the field of enor reconstruction of wastewater treatment plants, because that aspect, as vironmental protection, thus the Ministry of Environmental Protection the crowning part, represents – as I have noted – very large investments, provides both operational and financial assistance to interested local and all available methods must be utilised to secure those funds. governments units, and even in drafting technical project documentaTo conclude, I would point out that environmental damage through tion for the construction of sewage treatment facilities. A public call to the negative impact of releasing untreated municipal wastewater into local government units to express a need to develop technical project our rivers and land is enormous, and that the Ministry of Environmental documentation for the construction of wastewater treatment facilities Protection considers that – in accordance with this impact – regulating was run during February, for them to express the interest and readiness this system is the highest priority in the field of environmental protection of municipalities, to which 60 municipalities and cities applied. in Serbia today, and so maximum efforts will continue to be exerted in The technical project documentation that will be developed for order to develop understanding among all institutions, associations and justification studies, design concept solutions, design projects, conindividuals regarding the importance of solving this problem, as well as struction permit projects, as well as projects for performing practically concrete measures for this system to be regulated.

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BUSINESS

Better Quality Water In Kragujevac Reconstruction of the Gruža pipeline will bring a better water supply NEBOJŠA JAKOVLJEVIĆ, MANAGING DIRECTOR, JKP VODOVOD I KANALIZACIJA KRAGUJEVAC

inanced with 20 million dinars of its own funds, JKP Vodovod i kanalizacija (PUC Water and Sewerage Kragujevac) is rebuilding the main Gruža pipeline. The company has announced the completion of works by September and the automation of the distribution system » Wastewater treatment is one of the most serious problems in Serbia. There are not enough facilities, and only about 10 percent of wastewater is processed, while the European average is over 70 percent. A good example is the wastewater treatment plant in Kragujevac. Can you tell us more about this? What is its capacity, how many users are projected, what kind of technology is it? - The Cvetojevac central wastewater treatment plant was built with German technology and put into operation in September 1990. The capacity of the plant is 1,520 l/s, or 250,000 PE. In this facility, utility, industrial and faecal water are purified to a quality that can be released to the recipient, the Lepenica River, which is verified by the issue of a water permit by the competent ministries.

» In addition to its ecological importance, wastewater treatment contributes to green technologies by producing biogas. How is this done in your company?

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- The Cvetojevac plant delivers three products. One is made up of water that, after purification of utility, industrial and faecal water, has such a quality that it can be discharged into the recipient. The second is separated sludge that is accumulated, compressed and deposited. The third consists of biogas as a product of the purification of water and sludge. Biogas is used for the production of electricity, which covers 70% of the plant’s electricity needs. An anaerobic purification of wastewater decomposes organic matter in the absence of oxygen molecules. If the process is conducted properly, a gas can form that can be used to heat digesters and business premises and generate energy

» JKP Vodovod i kanalizacija is beginning the necessary reconstruction - especially on the main Gruža pipeline, where some lengths have not been changed since 1982. What are the plans for further investment and reconstruction? - On the main Gruža pipeline, which supplies 70% of consumers with water in the Kragujevac area, reconstruction and replacement of sector stopcocks has been completed, which is of great importance for the quality of the water supply to inhabitants of Kragujevac. In this way, it will be possible to wash out the pipeline, which will result in higher water quality across all parameters, especially turbidity. This pipeline was built in 1983 and since

On the main Gruža pipeline, which supplies 70% of consumers with water in the Kragujevac area, reconstruction and replacement of sector stopcocks has been completed, which is of great importance for the quality of the water supply to inhabitants of Kragujevac in gas generators. The total amount of gas produced is estimated from the amount of volatile solids that are decomposed. Gas production is directly related to the degree of digestion and the characteristics of the raw sludge, and depends on the process management. The basic components of the gas are: methane CH4 60-75% and CO2 3035%, with a small amount of 1-5% containing nitrogen, hydrogen sulphide and hydrogen.

then no serious work has been undertaken on it. We started replacing the stopcocks in December 2018. The plan is to complete the entire job by September this year. All works are financed from company income, and the total amount of investment for these purposes is over 20 million dinars. For the coming period, we have planned the reconstruction of the entire main pipeline and automation of the distribution system.

BUSINESS

New Measures To Combat Mosquitoes Detailed monitoring, the application of new remedies, treatment of micropockets and the use of thermal devices yield good results in the fight against mosquitoes PRIM. DR. DRAGANA DESPOT, DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE FOR BIOCIDES AND MEDICAL ECOLOGY

he Institute for Biocides and Medical Ecology has been cooperating successfully with the City of Belgrade in combatting harmful microorganisms for many years, and thanks to it being adequately equipped, it is ready to make its capacities available to all other interested local governments.

» Since 2015, when the Institute for Biocides and Medical Ecology took over the monitoring and combatting of mosquitoes on the territory of Belgrade, the system for combatting mosquitoes has improved significantly. How has it improved and what results have been achieved to date? - The suppression of mosquitoes is primarily based on the results of monitoring larvae and adult forms of mosquitoes. Detailed and timely monitoring of mosquito larvae in habitats enables the subsequent successful implementation of larvacide. The development and application of new remedies that are more ecologically acceptable and have an extended effect contributes significantly to reducing mosquito larvae levels. Contributing to the successful suppression of larvae and significant reductions in numbers of adult forms in some locations is the treatment of drains and micropockets, i.e., septic tanks in the Belgrade municipalities that don’t yet have a completely constructed sewage network. Increasing the number of locations for monitoring adult forms provides a more reliable

picture of their number and allows localised mosquito control. The use of thermal devices for fogging in the city’s riverside, forested and green areas contributes to more efficient suppression of mosquitoes and the environmentally safer application of biocides. » The “fight” against ragweed has also begun. During which period is action taken and what measures are applied? - The weed plant known as ragweed, apart from being an invasive species, also has significance in terms of public health, because its pollen is a strong allergen and is the primary cause of 75% of all hay fever in humans. In order to protect the health of Belgrade residents, the Institute for Biocides and Medical Ecology will again, during this growth season, take action to combat and destroy ragweed on unregulated public areas on the territory of Belgrade in two phases, with the following activities: Phase 1, from April to September, will encompass field monitoring with teams and the help of drones and GPS mapping of the prevalence of ragweed in unregulated public areas; Phase 2 includes the combatting of ragweed at mapped locations across the territory of Belgrade, which encompasses chemical measures carried out with the use of herbicides. » Your Institute has good cooperation with the City of Belgrade. Are there plans for the

services and knowhow of your institution to be made available to other local governments? - Apart from many years of cooperation with Belgrade, the Institute has also been cooperating excellently with other local governments for many years. For the municipality of Pančevo, the Institute’s multidisciplinary teams monitor harmful organisms throughout the territory of the municipality, as well as supervising actions aimed at combatting harmful organisms. For the municipalities of Kikinda, Kovin and Požarevac, the Institute’s teams carried out monitoring of mosquito larvae and adult forms both before and after the conducting of suppression activity. The Institute also organises and conducts training of all enterprises on the territory of the Republic of Serbia that deal with DDD [disinfection, disinfestation and deratting] activities, but also for enterprises operating in this domain in Republika Srpska and Montenegro. Among many institutions, the Institute has excellent cooperation with representatives of the World Health Organisation in Serbia and the reference laboratory from Italy for the detection of West Nile Virus. The Institute for Biocides and Medical Ecology is also equipped, in terms of personnel and financing, to make its capacities in the field of its activities available to all interested local governments.

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BUSINESS

Care Of Water Quality For 20 Municipalities Cooperation between numerous experts in reaching the best solutions MIROSLAV KRMPOTIĆ, DIRECTOR, HIDROGEOEKO INŽENJERING

ompany HidroGeoEko Inženjering [HydroGeoEco Engineering] deals with design, engineering and consulting in the fields of geology, hydro-geology, environmental protection and related scientific and professional fields. The backbone of the company is a team of design engineers with great expertise and significant experience. HidroGeoEko’s engineers, in cooperation with external associates and consultants, secure complete knowhow – from forming and shaping ideas and related research, to the production of complete documentation, such as design projects, reports and detailed studies, but also services during exploitation itself. » You are known as a company that brings together a team of skilled and experienced design engineers. What are all the kinds of services you provide and from which area? - We profiled ourselves from the outset as a company that strives for a multidisciplined approach and we do business in accordance with that. I am of the opinion that it is rare for a challenge to have a single possible solution, but rather that it is almost always possible to find multiple different solutions and that it is only through the inclusion of a greater number of competent people that the best solution

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is reached. HidroGeoEko Inženjering is focused on work in the fields of geology, hydrogeology, environmental protection, construction, mining and related professional fields. We strive to provide our clients with complete knowhow and are capable of following a project’s entire life cycle. » You’ve collaborated with numerous companies, local governments and institutions, including the U.S. Embassy, which testifies to your expertise. Which projects would you single out and what are you currently engaged in? - There have really been a lot of projects in the last 10 years, and we tried to grow as a company with each of them, and to advance our portfolio through challenges. We had an opportunity to work with some of the largest companies operating in Serbia, such as Coca-Cola, Nectar, Somboled, Heineken, Henkel, Framaco etc. We also participate in large infrastructure projects, such as the construction of Corridor 10. Of the projects currently underway, I would especially like to emphasise cooperation with companies Gradina and Konstruktor, where we are engaged in activities to reduce groundwater levels for the purposes of construction, as well as the project for remediation and restoration of the contaminated zone of the District Heating Plant New Belgrade. Nevertheless, the projects that I’m proudest of relate to water supply works and the protection of sources from

pollution. Through cooperation with local governments and public utility companies, we take care to ensure that the inhabitants of 20-odd municipalities always have the highest quality water available. » HidroGeoEko Inženjering is also a socially responsible company. What CSR activities have you undertaken to date? - While working, we always in mind the need to care for the environment, the local community, our clients and employees. All of our processes are in accordance with standards ISO 9001, 14001 and OSHAS 18001. We try with our processes and creativity to support and encourage actions that will contribute to the community in which we operate and develop as a company. We sponsor the organising of various scientific/research gatherings and networking, will encouraging scientific publishing. Our employees are active members of relevant scientific associations and regularly publish works in professional and scientific journals. We participate in various panel discussions and workshops that are aimed at ensuring the sustainable use of resources, reducing pollution, green construction and the like. We organise professional work-placement practise for graduates, in order to provide them with initial insight into the vocation they’ve chosen as their profession. We are guided by the motto that it doesn’t only matter what you do, but also how you do it.

BUSINESS SERBIAN ASSOCIATION OF PACKAGING WASTE OPERATORS

We Will Recycle 230,000 Tonnes Of Packaging Waste Belgrade recently saw the founding of the Serbian Association of Packaging Waste Operators, which composes all seven operators of the packaging waste management system on the domestic market MILAN KASTRATOVIĆ

KRISTINA CVEJANOV

he role of companies in managing the environment and packaging waste is very important. The establishment of an association that will handle and deal with packaging waste in an adequate way was an essential imperative, and now the state has a partner with which it can, through joint action, influence the creation of a system in this area. The concept of extending a producer’s liability, which implies the responsibility of a producer for its product, including its packaging throughout its entire life cycle, emerged in 1992, while in Serbia it has been applied since 2009, when the Law on Waste Management and the Law on Packaging and Packaging Waste were adopted. But what is the purpose of this initiative? MILAN KASTRATOVIĆ, president of the association and director of Tehno eko pak: “The aim is to create a comprehensive platform for improving the system of packaging waste management through corrective measures of the deficiencies that we’ve faced, as system operators, during the eight years that the system has functioned. For 2019, we are meeting the target of 60 per

VIOLETA BELANOVIĆ KOKIR

cent, which is also the EU’s target. In terms of quantities, this means that in 2019 the system’s seven operators will collect and send for recycling over 230,000 tonnes of packaging waste. National goals for reuse and recycling over the next five years should be adopted by the end of this year, while our goal is to form a working group within the framework of the ministry as soon as possible, in order for us to define the goals.” KRISTINA CVEJANOV, general manager at Eko Star pak: “The measures that we propose are mostly aimed towards the better application of existing laws, which also implies improving inspection oversight across the entire waste management chain. “Operators see a solution to this problem in the establishment of a regulatory body that will be engaged, among other things, in inspection oversight. This regulatory body would be formed with a view to the same kinds of bodies that already exist in Austria and Germany. In Austria, this way for the system to function has proven very efficient, and that’s the reason we want to adapt it to our conditions of operating.”

VIOLETA BELANOVIĆ KOKIR, general manager of Sekopak: “Development of the system to date has been based primarily on the engagement of business, both the bonded and recycling industries. The law clearly defines that companies that place packaging on the market must ensure its collection in accordance with national reuse and recycling goals, which is an obligation they transfer to operators, while both bear the costs of legally defined sanctions in the event of a failure to fulfil this obligation. Such a mechanism for applying pressure doesn’t exist when it comes to local governments and public utilities companies. Operators in the system are responsible for ensuring the collection of municipal packaging waste, but it is up to the state to impose the obligation of applying legislation in the field of waste management on local governments. It is for this reason that our initiative is directed not only towards the relevant ministry, but also towards the Ministry of State Administration and Local Self-Government. “The Serbian Association of Packaging Waste Operators will intensify its activities in the period ahead, in order to reach all target groups in the chain of packaging waste management.”

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BUSINESS

Waste - A Resource For Economic Growth Serbia needs a systematic concept of waste management NEVENA ČOLIĆ MOHORA, DIRECTOR OF MITECO KNEŽEVAC

ommunication with the European Commission regarding the EU’s enlargement policy for 2018 as it relates to Serbia indicates that there is still no data on industrial waste and facilities for its treatment. Data on the exact amount of hazardous waste in Serbia is lacking, but there are some estimates that around 100,000 tonnes of hazardous waste is located in almost 100 locations. The approach to the issue of hazardous waste should be systemic, encompassing, among other things, solving the problem of exporting hazardous waste for treatment and final disposal. » MITECO is among the pioneers in the industrial and hazardous waste disposal

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industry in Serbia. According to your estimates, how much historical waste does our country have and what steps should be taken to ensure the proper disposal of this waste? - Former industrial giants that became bankrupt enterprises in the previous period represent losers when viewed in economic terms. But if we look at them from the perspective of waste management, they can bring financial benefits. We should look at waste as a resource, as a development opportunity for Serbia’s economic growth, within the framework of the circular economy. With the elimination of historical waste and historical pollution, greater potential would come for the development of various economic activities. However, it is essential for progress that there be a predictable economic environment, primarily legal and administrative, and without this condition neither foreign nor domestic investments are possible, nor successful models based on the principle of PPPs (public-private partnerships). Serbia, as an EU membership candidate country, should define its own industrial policies and develop and analyse economic models. We need the implementation of a systematic concept of waste mana-

gement, which is supported by both the state and the private sector. » MITECO has warned for years that it will soon be impossible to export hazardous waste from Serbia to the European Union, or to countries that already have adequate centres for the “incineration or physio-chemical treatment” of that waste. More precisely, the prediction is that the deadline for this expires in 2020. However, despite the fact that the possibility of exporting waste to EU countries still exists, industrial and hazardous waste is still being dumped at landfill sites. Why is that? - Yes, in the last two years we’ve witnessed serious quantities of hazardous waste being found that haven’t been adequately disposed of and treated. That kind of waste is hazardous to human health and has a very negative impact on the environment, given that the land (where the waste is buried) is contaminated with dangerous substances. Such accidents are just another consequence of the non-systemic handling of the issue of managing flows of hazardous waste. Around 3,500 companies have an active permits for waste management in Serbia, while realistically that work is only done by

around 30 companies that have adequate technology, knowhow and capacities, but also insurance policies. The remaining firms don’t have actual capacities to dispose of waste, so they dump it at landfill sites, which is contrary to all rules. Companies that are engaged professionally in industrial waste management must invest continuously in new plants and production techniques, which deve-

occurs, but rather this area in Serbia will be ordered legally and systemically. » The 2019 Budget Act, with which the money allocated for the treatment of waste in 2018 was determined, envisages a third less than the amount of costs that the recycling industry has already covered for 83,000 tonnes of waste disposed of during the last year. On the other hand,

waste management is one of the important segments in closing Chapter 27, and that in order for Serbia to complete standardisation in accordance with EU legislation successfully, major investments are required. The investment potential of waste management is high, but we must be aware of the fact that the survival of this industry is brought into question no incentive funds are secured. According to the latest estimates of the Fiscal Council, establishing an efficient waste management system in Serbia requires the securing of around 1.5 billion euros. As such, it would be useful if independent financial institutions, such as the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, also dealt with this work. » In which direction will the future of your company develop? - MITECO plans will be developed in the direction of investing in the Recycling Centre Kneževac. First of all, we will invest in new processes that return natural materials to a reusable state. The focus will be on the recycling of electrical and other industrial machines. These waste streams must be managed in an extremely professional manner, in order for dangerous components (which such machines contain) to be separated, recorded and

lop every year at the global level. MITECO annually exports about a thousand tonnes of hazardous waste that cannot be disposed of in Serbia. We export it to EU countries that have plants for its processing. The total budget for this is almost a million euros, which MITECO pays each year to plants abroad for final disposal of hazardous waste services. Our obligation, as an operator that’s seriously engaged in this business, is to highlight the possibilities that can be offered by the private sector and to provide the best possible solutions, so that we won’t only deal with the waste management issue when an incident

Around 3,500 companies have active permits for waste management in Serbia, while realistically that work is only done by around 30 companies that have adequate technology, knowhow and capacities, but also insurance policies the Fiscal Council’s assessment is that a strong increase in investments in environmental protection is a budgetary priority this year and in the following years, and that it should total around 1.2 - 1.4% of GDP annually. Do you consider such an increase realistic at this time, and that the state has the possibilities and the “ear” for that? - We should consider that the issue of

transferred, via the Transfer Station, for final disposal. This can best be illustrated through the example of a transformer, as a device composed mostly of natural, recyclable materials. However, if the oil from a transformer, especially if it contains PCB, isn’t managed in an adequate way and enters the environment, it can have serious ramifications for the environment, but ultimately also for the health of people.

GREEN SERBIA

INTERVIEW

Natural Environment & Security The natural environment is exposed to evident changes in terms of degradation in many segments, due to the ever more dynamic development of society, production and consumption. These changes are often also felt beyond the site where pollution occurs, even at great distances, which gives this problem an international character

ALEKSANDAR VESIĆ, Assistant Minister in the Sector for Environmental Management, Serbian Ministry of Environmental Protection

n order to achieve sustainable development that’s harmonised with the needs and constraints of nature, which the contemporary world has opted to pursue, it is necessary to ensure integrity and coherence between economic policy and protection policies, and improvement in the quality of the environment at all levels and in all other sectors and aspects that relate directly or indirectly to the environment. With the increase in the destructive power of modern weapons, the harmful consequences of armed conflict have increased dramatically. If we add to this that potential targets and facilities that are vital to a large number of populations orwhich pose a potential environmental hazard (chemical plants, hydro and nuclear power plants, plumbing, electricity systems and the like), awareness is growing of the importance of the link between these two fields. Linking aspects of the natural environment and security, and a systematic approach to solving this problem, represent a precluding factor, or the prevention of possible accidents in environments in potential conflicts or terrorist attacks. Likewise, material wealth and natural resources are today con-

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fronted more than ever by various challenges and dangers. Environmental risks to material wealth and natural potential are represented by various chemical, radioactive and other pollutants, as well as uncontrolled operations in nature and excessive and uncontrolled use of natural resources. The greatest ecological risks linked to disrespect for the natural environment are: » Industrial pollution as a consequence of non-compliance with safety and industrial production standards; » Inappropriate handling of toxic substances; » Failure to respect standards for the production, storage and handling of dangerous goods; » Radioactive and toxic pollution; » Uncontrolled disposal of waste, especially hazardous waste; » Inadequate management of water resources and pollution of watercourses, especially sources of potable water; » Failure to adhere to regulations related to the collection, treatment and disposal of waste, especially hazardous waste; » other areas.

Ecological threats to some countries can also include the occasional endeavours of individual countries to sell and export to developing countries their “dirty technology“ and industrial plants that pollute the environment significantly and have many technical shortcomings. Ecological threats to security can occur continuously in times of peace or war in various forms of manifestation as a discrete substance for destroying, ruining or paralysing everything or only certain potential opponents, such as human resources, material goods, natural resources, economic power and so on. As the end goal of endangering environmental security is the destruction and pollution of nature and the natural environment (water, air, land and biodiversity), which creates unfavourable conditions for life and the fighting of the armed forces of opponents and populations. Alongside the usual forms of warfare, the modern world is confronted by the frightening possibilities of ecological warfare, primarily with nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, which could drastically alter the human environment

war since ancient times, with the dumping of dead bodies of animals and humans who died of illness into sources of drinking water is a phenomenon as old as human civilisation. The basic form of biological warfare would be the application of biological agents in the form of bioaerosols primarily through sabotage and terrorist actions. Geophysical weapons, in ecological warfare, encompass those means and methods that can intentionally cause powerful environmental disorder with devastating effects. Geophysical weapons are divided into subtypes like meteorological weapons, ozone and seismic weapons. Meteorological weapons, in ecological warfare, are directed towards causing artificial precipitation and causing climate change. Ozone weaponry, in ecological warfare, is based on the possibility of depleting the ozone above an area of the Earth, causing the area targetted to be exposed to strong ultraviolet radiation, leading to a series of disorders. Biotic weapons, in ecological warfare, are means for the mass destruction of plant life, which include, for example, effective herbicides. National procedures for ecoEcological threats to some countries can also include the logical security occasional endeavours of individual countries to sell and must include a export to developing countries their “dirty technology“ combination of and industrial plants that pollute the environment legislative, admisignificantly and have many technical shortcomings nistrative and technical measures that are taken and implemented in order to protect and endanger its existence. the environment and human health. Ecological war represents different forms of In the context of strengthening security in the endangers an enemies’ natural fundamentals field of environmental protection, it is necessary of human life in narrow or wider spaces, due to to strengthen – legislatively, organisationally and changing the conditions essential for the basic administratively – all management structures in conducting of human life functions over shorter this area, strengthening inter-sector cooperatior longer periods. Individual forms of ecological on, and especially inspection oversight, both at warfare can be conducted without a formal announcement of hostility, which means that there is an borders and within the borders of the country. open (public) but also secretive ecological war in In this respect, it is also necessary to continue the scope of special war, terrorism and diversion. harmonising domestic legislation with international laws, to continue intensive international Biological weapons in ecological warfare mainly cooperation in this area, but it also necessary imply the application of pathogenic microorganisms, agents of diseases in humans, animals and to build a system that will in future avoid overlapping responsibilities or a lack of coverage of plants. It is officially banned and falls among the an appropriate organisational and legislative cheapest and most effective means of endangering framework, in order for environment protection and destroying the living world – ecocide. to be managed responsibly and efficiently. Biological weaponry has been used to wage

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AIR POLLUTION

Over 400,000 Premature Deaths In Europe Annually Despite considerable improvements in past decades, air pollution is still responsible for more than 400,000 premature deaths in Europe each year. It also continues to damage vegetation and ecosystems

ontinued improvements in air pollution levels are expected under current legislation, but beyond 2030 only slow progress is expected. Additional measures are needed if Europe is to achieve the long-term objective of air pollution levels that do not lead to unacceptable harm to human health and the environment. Poor air quality adversely affects human health, the environment, and the climate. Both short-term and long-term exposure to air pollution harms health. This harm occurs either via direct exposure to air pollutants, or indirectly via pollutants transported through the air, deposited, and then accumulated in the food chain. Air pollution also harms ecosystems by contributing to eutrophication and acidification of water and soil, leading to loss of flora and fauna. Air pollution can also harm agricultural crops and forests causing yield losses. Furthermore, certain air pollutants affect the climate system by triggering positive or negative changes in global radiative forcing (see SOER 2015 briefing on the air and climate system). Current European Union (EU) air pollution policy is underpinned by the 2005 Thematic Strategy on air pollution (TSAP). This strategy established interim objectives for air quality and also established

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measures to ensure progress toward the goals of the 6th Environment Action Programme (6th EAP), which ran from 2002 to 2012. The 6th EAPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal was to attain â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;levels of air quality that do not give rise to significant negative impacts on, and risks to human health and the environmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. To move toward achieving the TSAP objectives, EU air legislation follows a twin-track approach of implementing both local air quality standards and source-based mitigation controls. These source-based mitigation controls include binding national limits for emissions of the most important pollutants. The main policy instruments on air pollution within the EU include the Ambient Air Quality Directives and the National Emission Ceilings (NEC) Directive, which contains emission ceilings for 2010 and years thereafter. In addition, there is source-specific legislation addressing industrial emissions, road and off-road vehicle emissions, fuel quality standards etc. Emissions are also addressed internationally under the 1979 Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. At the local level, the EU requires air quality management plans to be implemented in areas where exceedances of air quality stan-

dards occur. These plans are required to bring concentrations of air pollutants to levels below the EU legislative limit and target values. KEY TRENDS Vehicles, industry, power plants, agriculture, households, and waste contribute to Europe’s air pollution. Emissions of the main air pollutants in Europe have declined in recent decades (Figure 1), resulting in generally improved air quality across the region. However, certain sectors have not followed this trend, and have seen emissions of some pollutants increase. For example, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emitted directly into the air from coal and biomass combustion in households and from commercial and institutional buildings, have risen in the EU by around 9% and 11% respectively over the period 2003 to 2012.[5] These sources are now the most important contributors to total PM emissions in the EU. Emission reductions of certain pollutants have resulted in a notable decrease of ambient concentrations of sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), benzene (C6H6), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg). However, due to the complex chemistry undergone by certain pollutants in the atmosphere, emission reductions have not always produced a corresponding drop in concentrations. For example, there have been substantial reductions in emissions of many of the precursors for PM and O3 in Europe, but concentrations of these have generally decreased only slowly. Emissions from wood burning and coal burning are an important source of directly emitted PM and carcinogenic substances such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These emissions come from households, and commercial and institutional facilities. Emissions of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), a PAH formed mainly from the burning of organic material, have increased by 11% between 2003 and 2012. Population exposure to BaP concentrations is significant and widespread, especially in central and eastern Europe.[5][6] MAIN AIR POLLUTANTS AFFECTING HUMAN HEALTH Around 21% of the EU urban population lives in areas where the EU air quality 24-hour limit value for PM10 was exceeded in 2012. For EEA-33 countries the estimate is 38% of the urban population. Exposure to PM10 levels exceeding the stricter World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines (AQGs) is significantly higher, comprising 64% of the total EU urban population in 2012. 14% of the urban population of both the EU and EEA-32 live in areas where the EU O3 target value for protecting human health was exceeded in 2012. The percentage exposed to O3 levels exceeding the WHO AQG standard is significantly higher, comprising 98% of the EU’s total urban population. AIR POLLUTION IMPACTS ON ECOSYSTEMS Significant improvements in reducing ecosystem exposure to excess levels of acidification have been made over past decades, largely due to declines in emissions of sulphur dioxide, one of the

main acidifying compounds. However, this improvement has not been matched with a parallel improvement in eutrophication levels. This is because emissions of pollutants containing nitrogen — which can lead to eutrophication — have not fallen as much as emissions of sulphur. Ammonia (NH3) emitted from agricultural activities, and nitrogen oxides (NOX) from combustion processes are the predominant eutrophying air pollutants. Exceedances of eutrophication critical loads occur across most of continental Europe. It is estimated that around 63% of European ecosystem areas — and 73% of the area covered by Natura 2000-protected sites — were exposed to air-pollution levels exceeding eutrophication limits in 2010. The EU target value for protection of vegetation from O3 has been exceeded in a substantial part of the agricultural area in Europe, notably in southern and central Europe. The long-term objective for vegetation protection from O3 was exceeded in 88% of the total agricultural area in 2011.[7] PROSPECTS Air pollution is projected to further decline in future years, but beyond 2030 only slow progress is expected. In late 2013, the European Commission proposed a Clean Air Policy Package for Europe, which aims at achieving full compliance with existing air quality legislation by 2020, and at further improving Europe’s air quality by 2030 and beyond. The package proposes strengthening the implementation of existing legislation; introducing stricter national emission-reduction commitments; and reducing emissions from medium-size combustion plants. As part of this package, the Commission has put forward a revised NEC Directive, which proposes new national emission-reduction commitments for 2020 and 2030. This revised NEC Directive would apply to the pollutants currently covered (NOx, NMVOC, SO2, and NH3) and would add two new pollutants, PM2.5 and methane (CH4). It would also promote mitigation measures for black carbon. The proposals — if agreed and fully implemented — are projected to reduce health impacts (premature mortality due to PM and O3 pollution) by 53% in the EU by 2030 relative to 2005. 40% of this is estimated to be delivered by a full implementation of existing legislation. However, even with the implementation of these proposals, about 50% of the EU’s ecosystem area is projected to exceed eutrophication critical loads in 2030. Beyond 2030, a time horizon of 2050 has been suggested as an aspirational year to achieve Europe’s long-term objectives of achieving levels of air pollution that do not lead to unacceptable harm to human health and the environment.[9] To achieve such longer-term air quality objectives, it will become increasingly important that air pollution and climate-change policy are considered in an integrated manner. Measures to abate air pollution and GHGs often target the same sources. Factoring air quality into decisions about how to reach climate change targets, and vice-versa, can deliver greater benefits to society.

GREEN SERBIA

OPINION

The Only Constant In Life Is Change Having served in a local public administration, then moving on to the work in the central Government, and currently being in a position to guide and organise the work in Serbia for some of the world’s most successful companies and funds (and global success stories!) in the area of environmental protection, one of the key things I’ve learnt is that the only everlasting constant in business and life in general is – change MSC.ENG. MILAN STEVANOVIĆ, ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTMENT EXPERT

et, the ability to accept, predict or even be the change, does not readily appeal to our ways of thinking and working. We are quite reluctant to admit that there is indeed something (and a lot of it, actually!) that we do not know - which often leads to inability to ask: for assistance, guidance, exchange of ideas or simple information. The inability to ask, properly, eliminates the learning curve. Without learning, there is no change. Without change, there can be no progress. And why? Because we stopped ourselves from asking. Environmental protection, globally speaking, is currently living its progressive revolutionary moments. The no-residue waste management technologies, CO2 reduction, capture and storage mechanisms, water purification, distribution and monitoring, top-notch wastewater treatment technological processes, IT start–ups focused on solving some of the greatest environmental challenges that our civilisation is facing, are booming in every corner of the world! And while the “zero waste” concept everywhere in the world means that after

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a product becomes waste, the waste gets 100% reused or recycled – we consider it success if the zero waste is being thrown beside waste bins, or organised dumpsites. Fact check: Serbia has around 3,500 organised and non-organised non-compliant non-sanitary plots for waste disposal, and the average collection rate of household waste is 60%. Yes, the other 40% ends up in the waters and/or on land. Somewhere. Fact check number two: Sewage connection rate varies from 40 to 60%; it’s hard to tell exactly how many compliant wastewater treatment plants there are up-and-running, and nobody knows the exact amount and level of treated wastewater – it is estimated at around 8%. In other words, if the entire Serbian population was connected to the sewage system (which is not the case), 8 litres of water would be returned to our rivers, from which we get our tap water, a crystal sky blue hue, and 92 litres (almost 12 times more!) would be muddy brown. Try picturing that in the glass of water next time you are thirsty. The Ministry of Environmental Prote-

ction, as a line national policy body, often states that the lack of funds causes the lack of results and progress in the environmental protection field in Serbia. I am very happy to challenge that, on many levels and using various perspectives. For example: how much would be enough, and then, for which purposes? Who would design it, procure it, and implement it, having in mind the lack of administrational capacities, experience and specific human resources needed? Is it just the lack of funds or the issue of management as well? For instance, the success rate of Ministry for the fiscal year of 2018 was 70%, meaning that almost a half of what was intended remained unspent. In absolute numbers? Around €18 million left unspent. To illustrate in practical terms, this amount of money can almost pay off the entire debt to the recycling industry in Serbia; it can build and fully equip one waste management region, or a 100,000 PE wastewater treatment plant for a city the size of Kraljevo. The bottom line is – the Ministry is not the investor, nor the investment fund. It

does not have proper human resources, the know-how and the funds. It is the regulatory body whose main purpose is to draft, discuss and adopt regulations and make sure it is properly enforced. It can easily create and open market for investments. And our country is desperately in need of investments in environmental protection. Two examples of regulations come to mind, which illustrate the potential of such power. One: the by-law stating that all the municipalities that have not resolved their waste management in a regional manner and with a compliant landfill, will be paying €50 to €100 per ton of communal waste that ends on a local dumpsite. Give them a transition period of four years to find the best possible solution and determine location, project design, funding, procurement, construction and operations. Whether it is a loan, a PPP or their own funds. And sit back, draft the standards of operations and watch the regions come to life! Why? Because it is much cheaper to pay €20 for a compliant landfill than 3-5 times more for a dumpsite! A very simple, environmentally friendly, yet efficient economic instrument that can be applied immediately. Two: the by-law that prohibits septic tanks as a means of sewage water recipient in an urbanised area (not for the distant and rural) and sets the household connection rate in the urbanised area to the sewage system at 100% (or something in this or

similar manner, as the first step towards treatment facilities). The rest is pretty much the same – sit back, draft the standards and watch the investments pour into the sewage network (pun intended). Why? Because the sewage network or connection rate is the major setback when it comes to the investments in wastewater treatment. With these two, relatively simple bylaws, the €1 billion market for investments would be open. Now. One could argue that the best way to invest in environment is via public funds, instead of loans or PPP, primarily because of repayment and the source of repayment. But, let us not forget that public funds come from the same source, and that instead of being wired immediately, loans and PPP

only one that implies the highest available standards, efficiency (both construction- and operation-wise) and quality. Why? Simply because those are in the best interest of the contractor. In the past seven years, Serbia has undergone noted and appreciated changes in the business environment as the result of reforms and efforts to attract foreign investments, which is best portrayed by the fact that Serbia has steadily held its position in the top 50 out of 190 on the List of Ease of doing business. Every investor wants efficient administration and permitting, safe and predictable business environment, easy access to infrastructure and finance, legal safety, reliable political and economic surrounding. And, for the

Serbia has around 3500 organized and non-organized non-compliant non-sanitary plots for waste disposal, and the average collection rate of household waste is 60% investments are financed through long-term financial instalments. However, in weighing the options, there is another, much more relevant, issue: the trinity of know-how, operations and management. Investments from public funds and loans imply that the cheapest bidder for construction of a facility wins the tender, constructs it and leaves it to some future public body to operate and maintain, while the PPP model is the

dream to come true – a virgin market for its investments. I am grateful to have the opportunity to work with some of the most prominent and amazing people in the area of investments in environment. They have a remarkable, globally-built know-how, technology and experience, and are financially supported by international finance institutions, development banks and global corporations. Al-

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OPINION

though it might sound like a cliché, the most relevant criterium for project assessment is still project sustainability: economic, social and environmental. Has the project been wanted, accepted, and supported by all the relevant stakeholders? How can we offer and utilise our rich technical and operational knowledge and experience, for the best possible benefit of the population? How can this investment be on the optimal affordability line? Along with more than 3000 different financial, technical, spatial, administrational, operational, business, project management, legal and other parameters to ensure the sustainable, best possible model and solution as a response to environmental protection needs. The best projects are not the ones that bring quick profit, but the ones that set standards. In 1955, a Japan-based company delivered, installed and operated the first industrial wastewater treatment facility in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In the following decades, before its dissolution in 1992, Yugoslavia built around 37 municipal wastewater treatment facilities.

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In the past 20 years, roughly six plants were built, primarily financed by EU grants and loans. As an EU candidate country, if accepted into membership in 2025 and granted 15 years of transition period, Serbia will be obliged to build additional 320 wastewater

life is change. Once Serbia has set its path clear and straight, environmental standards will inevitably change. It’s a moving target that can only go higher up the ladder, especially if we consider the devastating effects of climate change on our civilisation.

In the past 7 years, Serbia has undergone noted and appreciated changes in the business environment as the result of reforms and efforts to attract foreign investments, which is best portrayed by the fact that Serbia has steadily held its position in the top 50 out of 190 on the List of Ease of doing business treatment facilities in the next 20 years, all of them fully operational. This is nine times more and 16 times quicker than in former Yugoslavia. Considering the economic standard then and now, such behemoth of an undertaking might be among the biggest challenges that we, as a society, will be facing. But, one must always keep in mind the beginning of this text – the only constant in

The future that we have once imagined has come, and we are living it, now. It looks like a powerful and terrifying tsunami, that only the most skilful, result-oriented, change-setting and visionary innovators can navigate. If you have just woken up and remembered that you should apply for swimming lessons – save your time and money – because, under this wave, you have already become a matter of the past.

INTERVIEW

Circular Economy The Circular economy represents an approach that transforms the function of an economy's resources. Apart from natural resources, in accordance with circular economy principles, the entirety of generated waste becomes a newly created resource. Waste from one factory becomes the raw material for some other manufacturing process

FILIP RADOVIĆ, DIRECTOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

he circular economy represents an alternative model to the linear economy – led by the principle ‘take, make, use, discard’ – primarily with the aim of protecting natural resources. Observing global consumption of energy, we see that it doubled between 1800 and 1900, but then increased twentyfold over the course of the 20th century. According to projections, an increase of an additional 50 per cent can be expected by 2030. In addition to this, food consumption increased by 57%, while the amount of packaging disposed of in landfill sites increased by 47%. The negative environmental and social impacts of this type of consumption are felt increasingly in Europe, which is why the European Commission adopted a package of four laws related to the Circular Economy, with which new legally binding targets and deadlines are established for recycling waste and limiting waste disposed of in landfill sites. Managing waste more efficiently is the first step towards a circular economy, in which it is necessary for all products and materials to be recycled or used more than once. This legal framework sets out very ambitious targets for recycling and waste disposal in the EU. The fact is that only 40% of waste is recycled in Europe. As an example, the U.S. Environmental Agency report says that over 140 million mobile phones were discarded

in 2010, 90% of which ended up in landfills, despite it being known that mobile phones contain very valuable metals – copper, gold, gallium and others – that can be recycled and reused for the same purposes. The EU’s new Circular Economy package of laws will help member states improve recycling efforts. These regulations introduce significantly stricter rules for recycling waste, particularly packaging waste, but also for calculating recyclability levels, which will help better track actual progress in accordance with the principles of the Circular Economy. A recycling rate of 65% of total packaging waste should be reached by 2025, then 70%

rous fractions of municipal waste should be established by 2022, with biological waste seperated by 2023 and textiles by 2025. It is estimated that the EU can save billions of euros in this way. The transition to a circular economy is inevitable for Serbia, primarily due to the need to adopt EU regulations in this field. It is estimated that introducing a circular economy to Serbia could create 30,000 jobs, as well as increasing the competitiveness of local businesses on foreign markets. Applying a circular economy will also be felt indirectly in other segments of environmental protection, primarily in preventing

It is estimated that introducing a circular economy to Serbia could create 30,000 jobs, as well as increasing the competitiveness of local businesses on foreign markets by 2030. For paper and cardboard packaging, the level of recycling should reach 85% by 2030, while for plastic this percentage is 55%, though it is envisaged that all plastics produced be 100% recyclable. In EU countries, separate collection is already an obligation for paper and paperboard, glass, metals and plastics, but that has also been extended to some other types of waste, and the separate collection of dange-

waste accumulating and ensuring its reuse. Proper waste management will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around four per cent annually. In implementing the principle of the circular economy, the role of businesses is the most important and they will have to bear the greatest burden of its introduction, but will simultaneously be the first to see the positive effects of this system.

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INTERVIEW

Investing Towards The EU The Multi-Annual Investment and Financing Plan represents an innovative tool for investment growth

SLOBODAN PEROVIĆ, Assistant Minister in the Sector for Strategic Planning and Projects, Ministry for Environmental Protection

CURRENT STATE OF PLAY The challenge faced by EU Candidate Countries related to the need to invest in improved environmental infrastructure as part of the EU Accession process was well recognised by all partners and experienced during previous rounds of EU Accession. Experience shows that the financial challenge is worsened by the low level of charges for environmental services, the ability of governments and municipalities to raise funds, many conflicting demands on the funding available, as well as slow progress identifying, prioritising and preparing the required investment projects. While a lack of finance is often perceived as a major barrier, other factors – such as the need to identify all required projects to comply with the requirements of EU Directives, political support to local projects at the local level, as well as appropriate project preparation – play an important role in the process. In practise, EU Candidate Countries may request transitional periods if they are unable to implement environmental investment projects by the date of accession. In order for a transitional period to be approved, the EU Candidate County must provide a clearly defined programme

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through which the necessary investment will be implemented. This programme needs to identify all projects and investments that will be required, sources of capital and the period over which the investments will be implemented. At a directive level, Serbia prepares Directive Specific Implementation Plans for all directives for which we are seeking transitional periods in accession negotiations. DSIPs need to present a defensible case for the additional time required for their implementation. DSIPs has so far been prepared for several different directives, leading to competing demands on the available resources. WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TODAY? The development of the environment investment plan is anchored in strategic considerations such as progress made in Serbia’s EU accession process, the overall macroeconomic situation in the country, as well as the Fiscal Council’s recommendations on environmental infrastructure development. ABILITY TO ASSUME THE OBLIGATIONS OF EU MEMBERSHIP The most recent Report on Serbia 2018 highlights developments with regard to Chapter 27: Environment and climate change. In the strategic context of the environment investment plan, it is noted among other things that Serbia has some level of preparation in the area of environment and climate change, and some progress has been made in further aligning with the acquis, strategic planning and addressing 2016 recommendations; in the coming year, Serbia should focus on operationalising and adequately resourcing the

mental protection amounts to about 1.2 to 1.4% of GDP (about 500m EUR). Public investments in the environment in the coming years are estimated at 8.5bn EUR; » An increase in environmental protection investments would improve budget structures and have a positive effect on economic growth in the short term; » Investments in environmental infrastructure would have a positive impact on health, quality of live and regional development, and provide an enduring incentive for the economic growth of the entire country; » There is currently fiscal space available in the budget that could be allocated for environmental investments. The fiscal consolidation launched at the end of 2014 allowed Serbia to avoid a public debt crisis – from the annual general government deficit of 6.6% of GDP (2.2bn EUR) in 2014, Serbia reached a balanced budget in 2017 and 2018, with public debt having dropped from almost 75% of GDP to about 60% of GDP. The Fiscal Council estimates that favourable fiscal trends will allow the Government to have fiscal funds at its disposal amounting to 1% of GDP in the 2019 budget, which can be used to increase public investments in environmental protection; » Public investments in environmental protection are funded from the national MACROECONOMIC SITUATION budget, but also from local budgets (cities Over the course of six years, and municipalities, together with local Serbia transformed itself from an public enterprises). Local governments should participate, on equal terms, in The most recent Report on Serbia for 2018 highlights developments the funding of environmental projewith regard to Chapter 27: environment and climate change cts, but they are currently unable to do so. Co-funding should remain the principle upon which the relationship between the national and economy characterised by stagnant growth, a high unemployment local governments relies. rate and twin deficits – to a low inflation economy with stable growth, an erased fiscal deficit, declining public debt, significantly MIFP – INVESTMENT AND COMPLIANCE FRAMEWORK reduced external imbalances and labour market recovery. An Accession driven investment planning process needs to Macroeconomic stabilisation contributed to stronger FDI provide the framework for making the necessary investments growth, up by 27.1% in 2017 (reaching 6.6% of GDP), and faand securing compliance with all relevant directives, as well as vourable trends continued in 2018. The stability of the Serbian to support bids for transitional periods where required. Several banking sector has been preserved and further reinforced. All of planning and implementation tools are used in this process. DSIPs the aforementioned created a favourable environment for the provide for the systematic assessment and identification of gaps acceleration of growth in the period ahead. in compliance, as well as proposing measures to close the gaps, Fiscal Council of the Republic of Serbia: investments in enviincluding capital-intensive environmental infrastructure projeronmental protection represent a social and fiscal priority cts. The Multi-annual Investment and Financing Plan provides a The 2018 report of the Fiscal Council calls for a strong increase comprehensive financing strategy by defining investment needs, in environmental protection investments, as a budgetary priority sources of finance and the timing of individual projects. Identified in 2019 and beyond. The key suggestions of the Fiscal Council projects then progress to the project preparation phase, where are summarised as follows: they may be supported by a range of project preparation facilities. » The necessary increase in budget expenditures for environnew Green Fund financing facility, and further improving inter-institutional coordination, in particular between the national and local levels; predictable financing based on the polluter pays principle that is needed to raise investment levels in the sector, while in waste management there is a good level of harmonisation with the EU acquis. Efforts aimed at improving implementation in this sector are ongoing. There is a need to update the National Waste Management Strategy and municipal waste management plans to reflect legal provisions on waste minimisation and waste separation at source, and to include quantitative targets for waste recovery and recycling. There is also a need for increased efforts to close Serbia’s non-compliant landfills more quickly, and to invest in waste separation and recycling; in the area of water quality, Serbia is moderately aligned. The Strategy for Water Management runs until 2034. A national strategy and action plan on water protection have not yet been adopted, while there is a need to exert significant efforts to further align its legislation with the acquis and to strengthen administrative capacities, in particular when it comes to monitoring, enforcement and inter-institutional coordination.

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INTERVIEW

Inspection Oversight & Education

Ĺ˝ELJKO PANTELIÄ&#x2020;, Assistant Minister

In addition to the national inspectorate for environmental protection, numerous laws have also entrusted tasks of inspection overishgt to numerous local governments, the City of Belgrade and the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. Considering the extremely large number of laws and by-laws in the field of environmental protection, as well as their complexity, the national inspectorate has specialised and functions via specialised departments. All inspectors have undergone training through various EU capacity building projects

for Oversight and Prevention, Ministry of Environmental Protection

he insufficient expert capacities of environmental inspectors of local government units to perform inspection controls entrusted to them from various areas of environmental protection were recognised in a timely manner, after which activities were undertaken to ensure their improvement, as well as activities on the establishment of coordination for inspection oversight activities in accordance with the Law on Inspection Oversight. The Sector for Environmental Oversight and Prevention at the Ministry of Environmental Protection started training activities for inspectors in mid-2017 through five training courses for 100 local inspectors from 100 cities and municipalities. After conducting the training, it was concluded that advancing the uniformity, efficiency and quality of the

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implementation of regulations cannot only be carried out through inspection oversight, but rather it is also important to establish permanent education. In order to institutionally establish permanent education in the Oversight and Prevention Sector, the Group for Education and Communication was sytematised and is in the process of being formed. The task of the Group for Education and Communication is, among other things, to prepare and organise the implementation of professional training and the training of inspectors within the framework of general and special programmes in accordance with needs, as well as the preparation of drafting procedures and instructions for conducting inspections aimed at harmonise the work of inspectors.

conclusions for the coming period: » Continue permanent education during 2019; » Include the media in permanent education, as an important link in raising awareness regarding environmental protection; » Include IMPEL experts in future permanent education activities, with the aim of transferring the best European practises; » Approach the creation of an information system for connecting local and provincial inspectors for environmental protection with the national inspectorate; » Utilise e-Inspector - networking all inspectorates at the national level; » Strengthen the capacities of inspection services at all levels. Reports and materials from the training conducted in 2017 and the seminars held in 2018 are available via the link: http://www.ekologija.gov.rs/organizacija/sektori/sektor-za-nadzor-i-predostroznost-u-zivotnoj-sredini/inspekcija-za-zastitu-zivotne-sredine/ For the year 2019, Budget funds are also planned for continuing permanent education activities in 2019 through the organising of two seminars. The first seminar is planned for June this Only through coordinated and permanent activities of all year and will include the participation stakeholders that can improve the level of protection of the of judges and prosecutors, alongside environment in any way can we expect visible results in terms environmental protection inspectors of establishing EU standards at all levels. At the second seminar, which is planned for September this year, environmental inspectors at all levels will be joined by resolving some of the most important issues in the field of representatives of the media and NGOs. environmental protection. The issues imposing themselves Permanent education via seminars is just one way to as a priority of all participants included: the protection and advance environmental protection. The most important aim preservation of natural riches, the construction of mini-hywe are striving to realise is the establishment of a training droelectric power plants in protected areas, the handling of centre, within the national inspectorate for environmental hazardous waste, municipal waste and wastewater, the improprotection, for the permanent training of environmental provement of the quality of ambient air and strengthening the tection inspectors at all levels, as well as other stakeholders capacities of inspection services and cooperation between (judges, prosecutors, businesses, media, NGOs etc.), which competent authorities. has imposed itself as a requirement. Resolving the listed issues is neither an easy nor a quick Is it only through coordinated and permanent activities process, but rather a process that will require both financial of all stakeholders that can improve the level of protection resources and the maximum engagement of all competent of the environment in any way that can we expect visible state bodies, scientific institutions, NGOs and the media, in results in terms of establishing EU standards. order to legislatively raise the awareness of all of us regarding the preserving and protectng of the environment for future generations. Participants assessed this form of education positively, which represents a good path to utilise joint efforts and exchanges of experiences in order for us to improve environmental protection, as one of the strategic goals on the road to reaching EU standards. The seminars held in 2018 resulted in the following

Permanent education in 2018 included, besides environmental inspectors at all levels, relevant inspectorates of other ministries, judges, prosecutors, licensing authorities, expert organisations, representatives of business, scientific institutions and non-governmental organisations, which are interlinked in multiple ways on the implementation of regulations in the field of environmental protection, within the scope of their competencies. Permanent education activities were conducted in the Environmental Oversight and Prevention Sector via three thematic seminars in 2018, which were attended by more than 200 participants. These seminars included: Protection of Nature - Oversight and Prevention (Tara, 27th to 30th June 2018); Waste – oversight and prevention (Bor, 25th to 27th September 2018) and Industrial Emissions – oversight and prevention (Stara Pazova, 30th October to 1st November 2018). A special novelty of the seminars organised during 2018 was presented by panel discussions that opened the door to the jointly coordinated resolving of many years of accumulated environmental issues. During the seminars held, and particularly through organised panel discussions, participants openly and transparently discussed methods and models of jointly

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SERBIAN RENEWABLE ENERGY

A Windy Attempt To Reach A Renewables Target

Serbia needs to do much more in order for its energy market to reach the standards required by the European Union. Better use of renewables is just the beginning

ostly reliant on domestic production for its energy needs, Serbia generates 70 per cent of its electricity from coal, with the remaining 30 per cent being provided mainly by hydropower. The national power utility EPS (Elektroprivreda Srbije – Power Industry of Serbia) dominates the country’s electricity market – it owns all the large generation capacities and supplies most consumers – 95 per cent of all electricity is supplied by EPS. In its Secretariat’s Implementation Report for 2017, the Energy Community, an international organisation which brings together the European Union and its neighbours to create an integrated pan-European energy market, states: “Serbia is generally doing well in transposing the Energy Community acquis, but with modest progress during this reporting period. The Energy Law and

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the adopted secondary legislation constitute a largely compliant legal framework.” Yet, the report highlights that implementation is lagging behind, in particular with regard to the unbundling of the transmission system operators, EMS (state-owned Elektromreža Srbije; Electricity Network of Serbia) in electricity and Yugorosgas Transport and Srbijagas in natural gas, which has led to an increase in infringement cases. Furthermore, the report adds that Serbia must also facilitate the implementation of agreements it has signed with Kosovo. WIND THEM UP Despite Serbia’s dependence on coal, the country is seeking to boost its renewable energy production, the bulk of which

B y YO A N S TA N E V

comes from wind power. According to Euractiv Serbia, 2018 will be a crucial year for the country’s energy sector as 250 megawatts from renewable sources are to be connected to the grid, followed by the same amount in 2019. As of May 2018, wind power construction has been revitalised. In its energy strategy implementation plan, Serbia has committed to bring online more than 500 MW of wind power by the end of 2020. The Čibuk wind farm is the largest not only in Serbia, but in the entire Western Balkans to date: it is a 300-million-euro project of 57 wind turbines supplied by General Electric and will cover an area of about 40 sq km. The windfarm has a capacity of 158 MW and is expected to provide electricity to around 113,000 homes, while reducing CO2 emissions by more than 370,000 tonnes. Čibuk is developed by a consortium that includes UAE-based renewable energy company Masdar, Finnish financial group Taaleri and German development finance institution DEG, part of KfW Group. The development of the wind farm will be funded by a 215 million-euro loan provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). KfW, a German government-owned development bank, and the European Investment Bank (EIB) initiated the Green for Growth Fund (GGF) in 2009, which is providing direct financial support for Čibuk. GGF’s website states that the Fund’s mission

as the country works to meet its commitment to produce 27 per cent of domestic power needs from renewable energy sources by 2020. The EBRD has worked closely with the government to develop and refine the regulatory framework for the sector and these efforts have now unlocked job-generating foreign investment and the first wave of renewable-energy projects.”

ACHIEVABLE TARGETS When it comes to renewable energy, GGF is also providing direct financial support for the Alibunar wind farm, as well as indirect support for the Malibunar wind farm, to assist the country in achieving the 27 per cent target. The Malibunar wind farm is the first project to be commissioned under the GGF framework. It has been operational since September 2017 and it is an 8 MW project comprised of four wind turbines. The larger 42 MW Alibunar wind farm is made up of 21 turbines and is in the final stages of construction. Earlier this year in April, German wind turbine manufacturer Senvion completed the installation of the 14th turbine at Alibunar and the wind farm is expected to produce enough energy to power around 27,600 households on average per year. Senvion entered the Serbian market with the installation of Malibunar wind farm in 2017. Belgian renewable energy producer Elicio NV, the developer of the Alibunar and Malibunar wind farm projects, has been present in Serbia since 2010, when Coal production may continue to be a vital source of energy, but the legal framework for the renewable energy sector was established. Serbia is taking steps to adapt its infrastructure towards renewable The Košava wind farm is yet another energy. And the government has been broadly supportive renewable energy project in Serbia. Serbian renewable energy company MK Fintel Wind, a joint venture between MK Group and the Italian is, in the form of a public private partnership, “to contribute to Fintel Energia Group, started the construction of the wind farm enhancing energy efficiency and fostering renewable energies back in June 2017 near the town of Vršac, near the border with in South-eastern Europe.” GGF has since increased the total Romania. It is estimated to be completed by the end of 2018 and financing it has provided to final borrowers to over 600 million cost a total of 124 million euros. In addition, Danish wind turbine euros across more than 25,000 individual projects. producer Vestas is to deliver 20 turbines for the 69 MW wind Mohamed Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, added: “At Masdar, farm, which is expected to supply electricity to approximately we are proud to be able to contribute our expertise and expe40,000 households. rience to the diversification of Serbia’s energy mix, working Only the first half of 2018 has passed, yet Serbia has already alongside our joint-venture partners. This project highlights seen increasing interest in its wind energy potential. Coal prothe attractiveness of the Serbian market for renewable energy duction may continue to be a vital source of energy, but Serbia investment and has the potential to be a hub for additional is taking steps to adapt its infrastructure towards renewable projects in the region.” energy. And the government has been broadly supportive. How The EBRD is providing a loan of 107.7 million euros, 55 million quickly Serbia is doing all this is a different question. In an article euros of which is syndicated to Erste Bank, GGF, UniCredit and written for Emerging Europe, Sir Suma Chakrabarti, president of Banca Intesa under an A/B loan structure. In parallel, the World the EBRD, states: “Today, climate change is perhaps the number Bank’s IFC is providing 107.7 million euros, partially through one global challenge” and that, “although green finance is on its Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Programme and partially the increase, we, including emerging Europe and Serbia, must through syndicated B loans. do more and quicker.” Harry Boyd-Carpenter, EBRD director of power and energy utilities, stated: “The Čibuk wind farm is a breakthrough for Serbia Source: Emerging Europe

GREEN SERBIA