Belgrade, 26 January 2017 - Today at a press conference held at the Media Centre Coalition 27 presented its third report entitled "Chapter 27 in Serbia: still in preparation."

The annual report summarizes the results of the monitoring and analysis of changes in the field of environment and climate change in the Republic of Serbia, formed in accordance with the process of negotiations with the European Union under Chapter 27. The report is an independent critical review of numerous challenges. It gives proposals to the Government of the Republic of Serbia how to make a shift and to improve the environment during the process of negotiations and accession to the European Union.

The report, "Chapter 27 in Serbia - still in preparation," deals with problems that have accumulated over decades, and that can be solved only with the full pledge of the Government, and with a firm commitment to put environment and climate change high on priority list. Also, the aim of the report of the Coalition 27 is to show that climate change and environmental quality is not only an obligation stemming from the negotiations with the EU, but a matter that concerns the health of all citizens." - this on behalf of the Coalition 27, was said by Tanja Petrović, Director of Youth researchers of Serbia.

Chapter 27 – Environment and climate change to the public and the media are often presented as the most extensive and expensive. However, if we consider that the air in Serbia is among the most polluted in Europe (according to the European Environment Agency) and the World Health Organization has estimated that the economic costs resulting from the premature deaths, which are a result of air pollution in Serbia, amounts 33.5 per cent of GDP, that in our country only 10 percent of waste water purified, while the budget of the Republic of Serbia for water management in 2017 provided only 0.2 percent, the situation is far from favourable.

Petrović added that „The environment cannot wait for the new election cycle. It is necessary to establish a long-term strategy for solving these problems, bearing in mind the most recent estimations on how much it will cost us are outdated, we are actually aiming a moving target."With this report, civil society organizations which are members of the Coalition 27, express their readiness to actively support the negotiation process with their knowledge and available capacities, in order to achieve the best possible results useful for all citizens of the Republic of Serbia, and these are to preserve nature and have healthier environment.

You can download report HERE

Author of the photo: Belgrade Open School