Water & environment

Environmental standards within the western Balkans are low. This is why the EU invests a great deal of time, and money, to improving environmental protection, awareness, and conservation.

In fYR Macedonia, an EU-funded campaign is underway to make the public aware of the importance of conserving the environment. People are encouraged to recycle, ride a bicycle to work, use unleaded fuel, and make use of compost. The Ministry of Environment has also received new equipment that allows it to monitor levels of nitrate in the river Vardar, which flows into neighbouring Greece, and to monitor the levels of air pollution.

Illegally dumped waste has been a constant problem in Kosovo. A dumpsite near to the capital Pristina, is often set on fire, causing clouds of toxic smoke to drift across the city. The EU has funded measures to improve conditions temporarily at these sites whilst work is completed on seven new landfills, which make use of modern design and technology to dispose of rubbish and waste as safely as possible. The illegal dumpsites will eventually be closed.

In Serbia, the Agency is helping the Ministry of the Environment to draft action plans tackling the Republic’s serious environmental problems. In Montenegro, work is far advanced to improve sewerage around a natural beauty spot, and feasibility studies are being drawn up to rehabilitate sewerage along the coastline.

See here a Powerpoint presentation on the Agency's work in water & environment.

'Cleaning up their act' - a story on how the EU is helping the Western Balkan countries to set environmental standards, October 2003

'Working together for a better environment' - a presentation to the Agency's Governing Board on its work in the sector, October 2003 (see also PowerPoint presentation)

For a more detailed presentation of the Agency’s activities in the sector please see Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, FYR Macedonia.