Belgrade, Medvedja – The Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM), with the support of the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, organized a joint conference entitled "Chapter 27 – Environment: From Policy to Implementation", which was held in the Belgrade Sava Center.

This activity is implemented under the program "Support to Local Self-Governments on the Road to Joining the EU-Second Phase," which is supported by the Government of Sweden, while Nebojsa Arsic, the Mayor of Medvedja, participated in the conference on behalf of the local self-government of Medvedja.  

Implementation of the laws and solutions in the field of ecology and in the sphere of environmental protection will be a difficult process, a long-term one, but also a positive one, and it will certainly have a happy ending, said Branko Ruzic, the Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government.

“This is not just a chapter, we are talking primarily about how we live and how we want to live our lives. Do we have ecological awareness, what kind of air we breathe, what kind of water we consume. Partners and activities are important. If you do not have people, money does not help much,” Minister Ruzic said.  

He added that it was important to have the capacities for further work on the projects and that he would, therefore, significantly relax the criteria for new jobs.

“Human resources for significant projects are fundamental to the purposeful management of policies, personnel and finances, " Minister Ružić said.  

Jan Lundin, the Swedish Ambassador to Serbia, agreed with the assessment that the point at issue was a long-term and positive process that would have a happy ending.   

“It is a process of discussion and debate, which is sometimes in line with the policy, and sometimes against the policy. The existing knowledge should be used. We, in Sweden, already have experience and we went through what you are going through now. And we want to share our experiences with you, " Ambassador Lundin said.

Regarding the removal of solid waste, Ambassador Lundin believes that Serbia should be attractive to tourists and that "something that is near the road, such as wild dumps, is not nice.”

He says that the issue is a big challenge for the local administration, that people are needed, and sometimes merely technical solutions.

Djordje Stanicic, the Secretary General of the SCTM, pointed out that he represented the organization that brought together all local self-governments in Serbia.

“It is necessary to respond to the demand of time.  We want to see how everything that regards local self-governments and that is in the context of Chapter 27 can be implemented, “Mr. Stanicic said.

Source: Jugmedia and Coordination Body