The Ministry of Environmental Protection and the European Union are launching a new support package in the areas of climate change policy, circular economy and bio-waste management. The total value of the package, approximately €16.3 million, will help further improve the environment for citizens of Serbia, according to the EU website in Serbia.
The goal is to enhance the quality of life for citizens in Serbia through a better legislative and policy framework, improved capacities of the public and private sectors, and investment in waste separation and collection.
“We are at a crucial moment where more efforts must be made to curb global warming, which has catastrophic consequences, as seen with forest fires, floods, heatwaves, and water shortages. The European Union supports Serbia in accelerating the country’s transition to a cleaner and greener economy, where citizens will directly benefit from improved services. Direct support has been secured for establishing a carbon pricing mechanism, supporting local circular economies with local governments and businesses, and launching a massive bio-waste and green waste collection campaign in 25 municipalities. This new environmental and climate package, worth €16.3 million, starts this month,” said the Ambassador of the European Union in Serbia, Emanuele Giofre.
The climate change component will focus on the policy and legal framework for climate change, strengthening capacity for climate change management, and assisting in the development of mechanisms to support industry in decarbonization. This component includes necessary amendments to the Climate Change Law to better align it with EU regulations and support the establishment of a carbon pricing mechanism in line with the EU system. The allocated amount is €1.5 million.
The circular economy component aims to develop roadmaps for the circular economy for local governments, action plans for circular economies, and raise awareness. Local governments will benefit from support to take action for a local economy that uses resources more efficiently, while private companies will receive tailored support to explore business opportunities facilitated by circular economy practices. The allocated amount for this component is €709,270.
The bio-waste component will support new services such as collecting bio-waste from individual households, small businesses, and green waste collection from public places in 25 municipalities across five waste management regions (Subotica, Pančevo, Sremska Mitrovica, Užice, and Pirot). Green waste, such as pruning residues from gardens and parks, will be composted instead of being disposed of in landfills, reducing costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Approximately 40,000 tons of green waste annually could be diverted from landfills. The project will run for 24 months, until the end of December 2026, with an allocated amount of €14.1 million.
