Implementation of environmental legislation, the most effective instrument for environmental protection
22 March 2012
22.03.2012 - The Chief Executive Officer of the Kosovo Environmental Protection Agency (KEPA), Dr. Sci. Ilir Morina, has invited international donors to assist the country's institutions in implementing the existing laws for environmental preservation. In a presentation on the state of the environment in Kosovo during an annual meeting organized today in Pristina by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the CEO of KEPA stated that significant progress has been made in our country in establishing the legal infrastructure for environmental protection, in accordance with European Union directives, and emphasized the need for assistance from the international community for better implementation of the existing legislation.
Environmental legislation in Kosovo is almost complete and based on European directives, international conventions, and agreements. However, we currently face difficulties in implementing the legislation, Dr. Sci. Ilir Morina told the meeting participants.
For this purpose, the CEO of AMMK has invited international donors present in Kosovo to also practically help local institutions in the implementation of the approved laws for the protection of the environment from various harmful and polluting factors. The successful implementation of the legislation also requires financial support in order to provide practical training to local structures at the central and municipal levels tasked with enforcing the current laws for environmental protection in Kosovo, Dr. Sci. Ilir Morina said.
The CEO of AMMK, during his presentation, emphasized that the environment in Kosovo is currently facing major and serious problems as a result of human activities. Dr. Sci. Ilir Morina emphasized that harmful and destructive actions to the environment should be treated by local justice authorities as serious environmental crimes.
On this occasion, he also reiterated the pollution being caused to the environment by the power plants in Obilić, Trepça, Ferronikeli, and the cement factory in Han i Elezit. The CEO of AMMK also highlighted other phenomena affecting environmental damage in Kosovo, including illegal logging of forests; destruction of riverbeds; killing of wild and rare animals and birds in nature; misuse of drinking water and water in general; as well as problems with various waste and air pollution from car emissions.
Dr. Sci. Ilir Morina, at the end of the presentation, listed a series of measures that are being undertaken by local competent authorities to improve the environmental situation in our country and invited the attendees, local and international actors, for better coordination in the implementation of existing laws aimed at environmental protection. Today's meeting was a continuation of the regular annual meetings related to environmental crimes, which began in October of last year in Kosovo under the organization of the OSCE and Interpol. Within the framework of such meetings, the CEO of AMMK, Dr. Sci. Ilir Morina, has also been invited to the international-level meeting organized by Interpol, which will be held this month in Lyon, France.