Co-PLAN participated on 7^th March 2014 to a meeting organized by the Ministry of Environment to discuss about the new draft of Decision of Council of Ministers “On Defining special requirements, conditions and rules to review and transfer of Environmental Permits”.

This meeting gathered together environmental specialist from the ministry of environment, national environmental agency, civil society working in the field of environment and private sector interested.

The new DCM together with the law on Environmental Permits transposes fully the EU Directive 2008/1/EC “On integrated controlling and preventing of pollution”.

The discussion were mainly focus on how the procedure of environmental permits for permits of A,B,C category, is now separated from the process of environmental impact assessment for the new installments. In line with this argument, public information and participation process is developed and documented before that the entire documentation, to obtain the environmental permit, is delivered to the National Licensing Center, which differ from the public information and participation process developed during the process for the approval of Environmental impact assessment.

Also another concern raised by the civil society was that the DCM should consider carefully all requirements from the international convention of Aarhus and the law on public information about the deadlines and timing for public information and consultation.

The main message of the Conference on Capacity Building to facilitate the implementation of the European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) in Macedonia, held on 6^th-7^th February in hydropower plant “Radica” in Mavrovo was to demonstrate that the state, that is, the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning and the economic operators are seriously preparing for the obligations and benefits arising from the EU legislation in the field of environmental protection and climate change.

The Conference was part of a project, supported by the Norwegian Environment Agency (NEA) and co-financed by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA) to enable the conditions for further facilitation of the implementation of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme in the country. Total value of the project is EUR 711,300.00, for a period of 3 years, 2012-2015., of which EUR 617,700.00 in donations, and the rest are non-financial support from the MEPP.

According to Minister Ademi , the project provides support to the process of building local capacities and provision of a series of sectoral trainings (by type of sectors relevant to the identified potential EU-ETS installations) that will offer an introduction and practical knowledge for the preparation of documentation required under EU regulations described in the EU Directive 2003/87 and Directive 2009/29 EU-ETS, and a new Regulation 601/2012 on monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions. Along with the educational part, it is foreseen to analyse the possibilities for preparing draft legislative acts that would go as suggestions for suplements and amendments to the Law on Environment and bylaws of the future Law on climate action that is planned under IPA TAIB 2012 as part of the institutionalisation of the EU-ETS.

The second phase anticipates regionalising of the project activities with involvement of neighbouring countries, promoting the possible networking and exploring the possibilities and prospects for the scheme at regional level. The latter opens the possibility Macedonia to take a leadership position in this area in the region.

In the last year, the project (depending on progress) envisages selection of pilot operators and simulation of human emissions of greenhouse gases. Also, it is planned to make analysis of the local capacities for verification and preparation of procedures for eventual accreditation of verifiers of installation reports.

The EU’s emission trading of greenhouse gases is the basis of EU policy to combat climate change and its key tool for reducing industrial greenhouse gas emissions in a cost-effective way. EU ETS works on the principle of “cap and trade”. This means that there is a “cap” or limit on the total amount of certain greenhouse gases that can be emitted from installations based on certain indicators (ie benchmarks). Within that limit installations receive emission allowances which they can if necessary sell or buy from each other. The limit of the total available quota allows them to have value. European Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) covers approximately 11,000 power and industrial plants in 30 countries in Europe. EU ETS is developing fast and it has to be part of the environmental legislation that Macedonia will have to implement to become an EU member.

In this regard, Minister Ademi stressed that the fulfilment of recommendation will be great challenge and obligation, as well as the future preparation of legislation that is enforceable in practice.

Resource: http://www.moepp.gov.mk/15-konferencija

The informal association of citizens for salvation of the Vodno mountain, worried for the intensive destruction of the mountain with serious construction activities at several points on its slopes, as well as because of the announcement for realisation of new projects that would be further degradation of the natural environment of the Vodno mountain, urged citizens of Skopje to express their disapproval, by joining the second protest march, organised on 9th February, 2014.

The protest march, organised under the slogan “Let’s save Vodno ” started at 10 am in front of the elementary school Koco Racin , where participants, walking or on bikes, headed for the top of the mountain. The meeting took place in front of the mountain lodge on top of Vodno in 12.30h. From the meeting, a proclamation was addressed to the competent local and national authorities, requiring to immediately stop the ruthless urbanisation and destruction of park- forest Vodno ,

Jugoslav Dukovska, the initiator of the first protest against the urbanisation of Vodno, said that the citizens of Skopje should not allow this building madness to cripple their mountain. She sent an appeal to the authorities to stop the construction of the road between the Sun City and the New Tower, which divides the mountain in two and destroys its forest belt.

Read more:

http://www.mkd.mk/makedonija/skopje/v-nedela-protesten-marsh-pod-mototo-da-go-spasime-vodno

http://www.time.mk/c/def4ca05b0/vo-nedela-vtor-protesten-mars-za-spas-na-vodno.html

On 15th February 2014, in front of the former department store “MOST“ in Skopje, a major environmental protest was held against the construction of the power plant facilities “Bosko Most” and “Lukovo Pole”.

Building of the two hydroelectric power plants in the National Park of Mavrovo, will have negative impact not only on the overall bio-diversity of the park, but also n the river Radica and the Debar lake. 

Organisers of the protest were the Association “Ode Dibrane ” from Skopje, the two environmental coalitions ” Ecology – priority ” and ” Natura 2000″. The protest was supported by a large number of residents from the Debar and Reka region, citizens and members of NGOs from, Skopje, Gostivar and Tetovo.

The protest under the slogan “Protect the river Radica ” and “Protection of the National Park Mavrovo ” is part of the wider community initiative “against the idea of the World Bank and the EBRD to finance two power facilities in Lukovo Pole and Bosko Most, initiated by the Government of Macedonia and the national electrical company ELEM”.

See more info: http://www.plusinfo.mk/vest/125935/Protest-za-spas-na-Radika-pred-poraneshnata-stokovna-Most-vo-Skopje

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fosim/sets/72157641026002283/

Today, more than half of the World population and about 75% of Turkish population lives in cities. That’s why cities play a key role on basic needs of human beings from drinkable water to healthy air, and in general, on the life quality. How we want a city has become in fact directly related to how we want to lead our lives.

For this reason, TEMA Foundation issued a call to candidate mayors prior to the local elections that will take place in March 2014.

With this call, TEMA lists its demands following our basic right for a healthy environment:

1. Protecting Farm Lands: A rapidly growing population causes pressure for construction on agricultural lands around the cities. Because of rapidly growing constructions, we lose our thousand years old fertile soil.

TEMA Foundation requests, for sustainable living, areas close to agricultural land not to be opened for construction. Preservation of agricultural land is a guarantee to food security.

2. Protecting Natural and Cultural Heritages: It is important for cities to protect their natural and cultural heritage.

TEMA Foundation requests that, during the evolution and transformation period of the cities, Municipalities have to carry their responsibilities to protect this heritage and structure. .

3. Protecting Green Areas: Green areas constitute the link between people and nature and it regulates the balance between these two. Green areas also help to recover human’s life quality.

TEMA Foundation requests that, Green areas are not places for construction and they must be protected.

4. Waste Management and Environmental Protection: Although it’s important to have storage and all other waste management facilities in the city, it’s also important to choose their locations wisely and not close to cities and forests.

5. Adaptation to Climate Change: We witness the effects of climate Changes all around Turkey and the world. There has been an increase in observed flood and drought which affects our lives and causes a great deal of soil loss.

TEMA Foundation requests that, for combating the climate change and adaptation, new ways of sustainable transportation and energy conservation have to be found and renewable energy and improved waste management facilities have to be supported.

6. Provide Sustainable Transportation: Transportation policies, because of the pressing problems of air pollution and traffic in the cities, are of outmost importance in terms of quality of life.

TEMA Foundation requests public transportation systems to be improved, holistic plan of various transportation kinds to be developed and bicycle usage to be promoted in cities..

7. Improve Urban Infrastructure: Urban infrastructure plays very important role on healthy growing cities and improving quality of life.

TEMA Foundation requests our water to be protected, water channels to be improved to prevent leakages, electricity distribution networks to be improved for energy efficiency and saving, an innovative method to be developed to prevent the mixing of rainwater with sewage..

8. Healthy Cities: In Turkey there has been a really fast evolution and transformation in all cities.

TEMA Foundation requests protection and improvement of green areas in the cities and ecological concerns to be integrated in city planning.

9. Ensure Active Participation of Stakeholders in Decision Making: Municipalities should take decisions with the involvement of all interested Parties.

TEMA Foundation requests that, to prevent environmental problems, local administrations should adopt environmental participation and ban projects with potential harm to environment.

10. Establish Ecologically Literate Municipalities: Ecological Literacy helps people to understand the Nature, to learn nature’s principles and to communicate with nature.

TEMA Foundation dreams of Ecologically Literate Municipalities.

During January and February 2014, ATRC – ENV.net partner in Kosovo, as a part of the campaign against degradation of the Regional Park Gërmia, has developed a series of consultations, meetings, with many national and local institutions in order to identify legal and procedural violations of the decision taken by Kosovo Parliament for building the Administrative Protocol Center of Kosovo in middle of the protected Park.

For this purpose, ATRC explored and analyzed: Laws and Regulations from Ex System (before 1999), Legislation approved by the Assembly of Kosovo, Decisions by the Assembly of Kosovo, Municipal Regulations and Decisions approved by the Municipal Assembly etc.

ATRC has identified about 24 procedures, provisions in laws and regulations that are violated on the decision to build Administrative and Protocol Center in Germia Rark.

All findings are summarized in a document that will be submitted to the members of the Municipal Assembly of Prishtina, for reflection and reconsideration of the decision taken by the previous administration of the municipality of Pristina.

We are very glad to announce a new open call for proposals, titled: Involving citizens for a greener Europe – Small scale action scheme for the benefit of CSOs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro.

The  deadline for applications is 15th March 2014 at 15h00 (Italy time)

Objectives and main activities:

The objective of this call for proposals is to expand the ENV.net, by involving other CSOs in the Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The main aim of these actions is to make awareness among citizens and influence public sector reform processes on the approximation of target countries to the EU environmental standards.

The specific objective of this call is to promote innovative actions aimed at involving citizens in the protection of the environment, through the following activities:

• Organisation of public events aiming at raising awareness of citizens or particular group of citizens on environmental issues (e.g. air pollution, water quality, climate change, waste management, GMOs), such as environmental educational activities in schools, organisation of neighbourhood activities (e.g. cleaning day), concerts with local groups, street actions

• Setting up of info points for citizens on environment issues (e.g. waste hierarchy, energy efficiency, air pollution) for awareness of citizens, through various public initiatives and distribution of awareness material

• Organisation of other innovative activities involving citizens (e.g. dedicated on-line communities, e-petitions, Wikis – coproduction of new knowledge)

• Participation to big public events involving citizens (e.g. festivals, fairs) organised by other organisations

Download the application package

 How to apply

The applications MUST be sent by e-mail to env.net-helpdesk@puntosud.org, by 15th March 2014 at 15h00 hours (Italy time)

Questions related to the call for proposals must be sent by e-mail no later than 7th March 2014, to env.net-helpdesk@puntosud.org indicating clearly the reference of the Call for Proposals.

National conference „Get Involved – Define the Civil Society you want!”  The Vision for the Civil Society in Serbia in 2018. – creation of the first National Strategy for the enabling environment for the development of civil society” was held on February 20-21. 2014. in Belgrade.  More than 280 representatives from civil society organisations, including the representative from the Environmental Ambassadors for Sustainable Development , participated in developing the first strategic framework for creating the better environment for the civil society development in Serbia by using Open Space Methodology.  This conference was organised by the  Governmental Office for Cooperation with Civil society and TACSO Office in Serbia. Delegation of EU in Serbia participated.

TEMA Foundation, works since 1992 to combat soil erosion and raise awareness on the protection of natural habitats, with the belief that soil is the life source of all living things.

Based on this belief TEMA Foundation’s 2014-2015 work program will be under the motto “Healthy Soil, Healthy Food”. TEMA Foundation will focus on the production of healthy food and will show to the public that one can only have access to healthy food through healthy soil and healthy environment. This is going to be TEMA’s priority.

Activities will be organized to emphasize the potential of the agricultural economy of soil health, to raise awareness of the rural population that is involved in food production and to create awareness for the urban people who don’t feel connected to soil.

TEMA Foundation has organized a workshop on 14 January 2014 to develop basic strategies on the above issues. 28 academicians and experts from various universities and NGO’s attended the meeting. Based on the comments and suggestion provided by participants, TEMA is developing an awareness rising and communication campaign on its core working areas and Turkey’s environmental concerns.

Minister of Justice and Public Administration Nikola Selakovic will attend the opening of a national conference “Get involved –  define the civil society you want! Civil society in Serbia in 2018 – the elaboration of the first national strategy for creating a stimulating environment for development of civil society” on 20 February at 9.30 at Sava Centre, Belgrade.

The speakers at the conference, which will be held on 20-21 February, will be Director of the Serbian government’s Office for Cooperation with Civil Society Ivana Cirkovic, Minister of Energy, Development and Environmental Protection Zorana Mihajlovic and Head of the Serbian Team for Accession Negotiations with the EU Tanja Miscevic.

Other speakers will be Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport, US Ambassador to Serbia Michael Kirby and Norwegian Ambassador to Serbia Nils Ragnar Kamsvag.

http://civilnodrustvo.gov.rs/eu-ipa/en/news/get-involved-define-the-civil-society-you-want/