The Minister of Environmental Protection, Irena Vujović, stated that investment in environmental protection will remain one of the priorities in the coming period and added that in the previous two years, the most was done for cleaner air in Serbia.[1] On the other hand, the rebalancing of the budget for 2022 reduced the total budget of the Ministry of Environmental Protection by 1.29 billion dinars.

The environment is (not) a priority

Why does the new budget review for 2022 indicate a significant reduction in financial aid from the European Union in the amount of almost one billion dinars? Is environmental protection really one of the priorities of the Government and the Ministry of Environmental Protection? The drastic reduction of the budget refers above all to the management of waste and waste water, although many researches and analyzes see this area as one of the more problematic. The Law on Amendments to the Law on the Budget of the RS for 2022 brings with it numerous reductions of certain items in the budget, among which the most significant differences relate to: Remediation and closure of unsanitary landfills, waste management system, construction of regional waste management centers, as well as other items of waste management, wastewater and chemicals, and reductions amount to more than 2.5 billion dinars. However, the total reduction of the budget is less than this amount, taking into account that funds for some activities have also increased.

Reducing the budget in these areas does not meet the goals prescribed by the Waste Management Program in the RS for the period from 2022 to 2031, such as: Improved municipal waste management system through an increased recycling rate, reduced disposal of biodegradable waste in landfills and reduced disposal of waste in unsanitary landfills. Not only are these measures contrary to the set goals, but the practice of inadequate waste disposal without control conditions at unsanitary landfills continues.

Also, while almost 190 million dinars have been allocated in the Budget Law for 2022 for the arrangement and improvement of the system of nature protection and biodiversity conservation, now that figure is less than 70 million dinars, and when it comes to monitoring the quality of air, water and sediments, the budget for this area was reduced by almost 14 million dinars.

Does buying ecological vehicles solve pollution problems?

The new budget also shows an increase in certain items such as the Incentive for the purchase of environmentally friendly vehicles, where there is a jump from 150 million to more than 260 million dinars. Considering that a relatively small number of people in Serbia can afford this type of car, as well as that their contribution to air pollution is incomparable in relation to industry and energy, Coalition 27 believes that there are many worrying and more expedient areas that require an increase in the budget, such as subsidizing energy efficiency measures and measures to reduce energy poverty, for example. We should also not ignore the fact that the electricity for ecologically "acceptable" vehicles in Serbia is currently mostly obtained from ecologically "unacceptable" sources - by burning fossil fuels.

The second increase refers to Services for removal and permanent disposal of hazardous waste - and according to the latest report of the Environmental Protection Agency, the economy creates the most hazardous waste. Coalition 27 believes that the economy itself should pay for the management of the waste it generates, based on the Polluter Pays principle as well as Article 26 of the Law on Waste Management, where the responsibilities of waste producers are defined.

Such changes to the budget of the Ministry of Environmental Protection contradict the recommendations made by the Coalition 27 in all reports over the past eight years, contrary to the recommendations of the European Commission, but also to the real problems and needs of the citizens of our country.

Coalition 27 advocates and encourages public participation in the process of our country's accession negotiations with the European Union in chapter 27 and proposes solutions that will contribute to the protection and improvement of the environment and the quality of life of citizens. Coalition 27 publishes an annual Shadow Report that follows the publication of the European Commission Report and the progress of reforms in the field of environmental protection, but also provides an overview of the most important recommendations for each area of ​​Chapter 27.

For more information about the announcement, you can contact Jelena Dadic, public relations associate of Koalicija 27 at email: pr.koalicija27@gmail.com or phone number: +381631912493

[1] Government of the Republic of Serbia: https://www.srbija.gov.rs/vest/662710/ulaganje-u-ekologiju-ostaje-prioritet.php

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