17 October 2013
17/10/2013 - The European Commission has published the Progress Report for Kosovo for the year 2013. Within the chapter on Environment and Climate Change, it is noted that progress has been made in the installation of the network for air quality monitoring, the declaration of water protected areas, the declaration of nature protected areas, and the adoption of several laws and administrative guidelines such as: the Law on Waters, the Laws on Sharri and Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Parks, the Guidelines for the Prevention of Industrial Pollution and Control, as well as several administrative guidelines in the chemical management and waste management sector.
The report also assesses that the legislative and institutional framework to implement EU standards partially exists. However, shortcomings have also been identified, especially in the climate change sector, in the lack of financial mechanisms to support investments in environmental projects as well as the lack of investments in wastewater treatment plants and waste management. The monitoring of protected areas has also been identified as an essential need.
The report recommends strengthening capacities to implement and enforce legislation at the central and local levels, increasing the budget in the environmental sector, and developing a strategy for climate change as well as a system for monitoring and reporting greenhouse gases.