Sweden and Serbia have a strong cooperation on Environment and Climate Change. The focus of the cooperation is to support EU environmental reform in Serbia – for people’s health, a clean environment and sustainable economy.
Minister Trivan and the Ambassador of Sweden Jan Lundin today signed the extension of two cooperation agreements. Additionally, Sweden has recently also entered into three other agreements supporting projects related to Environment and Climate reform in Serbia. In total these five agreements have a value of 3.6 mil EUR. Sweden supports the Ministry of Environmental Protection in areas covering solid waste, wastewater, chemicals, industrial emission, strategic environmental financing and citizen participation in environmental decision-making.
The two agreements now signed by Minister Trivan and Ambassador Lundin concern extension and additional funding: Priority Environmental Infrastructure for Development (PEID) to finalize the preparation tender documents for wastewater treatment plants in Nis and Cacak and The Chemical Management in Serbia that aims to improve the digitalization of the chemical management and harmonizing chemical policy with EU policy. More than 1000 chemical companies in Serbia are today using the e-platforms already established within this project. The new phase will also give special attention to strengthen inspections of chemical management.
Minister Goran Trivan said that cooperation with Sweden in the field of environmental protection is very important precisely because of Sweden’s environmental achievements. “Sweden is one of the most important countries in the world in setting environmental standards. Our cooperation has been going for years, and we want to continue with these agreements – wastewater treatment plants is the first priority of the Ministry and the second agreement related to chemicals is also important for health” said Minister Trivan.
“The EU and Swedish Government give high priority to the environment and environmental democracy. The EU environmental package give countries and citizens good access to reliable environmental information, clear action plans that are developed to reach environmental and health standards and clear and transparent incentives for environmental investments”, said Ambassador Lundin.
The three other new projects that Sweden recently decided to support concern the strengthening of climate change and environmental democracy. Those are: Climate Smart Bio-Waste Management Challenge, which will stimulate investments and business development in green waste and mitigate climate change, Climate Pact for Impact which will strengthen climate education among young people in Serbia and ECO SYSTEM which will strengthen civil society and contribute to reform and EU integration on national and local level, and citizen participation in environmental decision-making.
Sweden has been supporting the preparation of Chapter 27 for many years and last week the Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Environment and Climate Negotiation Position, Chapter 27. Ambassador Lundin congratulated Serbian Government to the adoption of the EU Environmental Negotiation Position, Chapter 27. This is an important step towards long term environmental reform and investment in Serbia. Sweden is the largest bilateral donor regarding environment and climate reforms in Serbia – with a yearly environment support of about 3 mil EUR in grants that includes support to central and local level and civil society. In total, Sweden provide Serbia with bilateral development assistance with more 14 mil EUR per year.