“Eco-package” education activity how to creatively use TetraPak used packaging material, after 10 months is finalized in Serbia, with awarded ceremony for the participants (Eco-Schools from all over the Serbia). EASD is sharing some creations.
EASD / ENV.net Serbia promote EU environmental values on event focused to issues related to European Solar Days ( Event in elementary school Drinka Pavlovic in Belgrade, May 13, 2014).
In Serbia, on 4 April 2014, the meeting (info session) was organised towards establishment of EU-Serbia Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee – JCC . EASD-ENV.net Serbia participated. This meeting is within the process started in January 2014 with Hearing with Serbian Civil Society, following OPINION of the European Economic and Social Committee on the role of civil society in EU-Serbia relations.
In the context of preparations for the 2014 Progress Report, the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia is currently launching the round of consultations with the civil society. In this respect, they invited NSA to submit a written contribution to the to the 2014 Progress Report on the economic criteria and/or European standards.
EASD – ENV.net Serbia, prepared and sent to EC Delegation in Serbia, written contribution to the 2014 Progress Report- Chapter 27.
EASD representative will participate to the Economic Criteria Consultations which will take place at the at the EU Delegation to Serbia premises, on Friday 4 April.
2014 Progress Report – EASD contribution
On March 26th, 2014., the United Nation Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) organized the meeting with representatives of NGOs from Serbia at the Ministry of Energy, Development and Environmental Protection premises. NGOs working in environmental-related projects talked with the Environmental Performance Review (EPR) Team of UNECE, and it was a great opportunity to discuss some of the major environmental issues and to share experiences of our NGOs in carrying out environmental projects. Representative from Environmental Ambassadors gave a brief presentation of ENV.net project.
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.
Public Policy Institute organized on 18 February, 2014 in Belgrade the Panel discussion „Negotiations as a priority – priorities in the negotiations“. Panelists were: – representatives of the PPI : Prof. Nikola Samardzic, Prof. Stevan Lilić, Prof. Mijat Damjanovic, Prof. Anđelka Mihajlov, Gordana Lazarevic, and – representatives of the Government of Serbia: Dr. Tanja Miščević, Head of the Serbian negotiating team with the European Union,Nikola Selaković, Minister of Justice and Public Administration and Lazar Krstic, Minister of Finance.
The important issues of priority in the negotiations were addressed, including the background information why environmental sector should be among the priorities. Prof. Anđelka Mihajlov raised the question: If the knowledge is used as a tool and we know that one-third of the EU acquis is in environment sector, should that sector be among the priorities of European integration? She pointed out that the answer is self-explanatory and that Chapter 27 should be among priorities. She underlined that Chapter 27 is very difficult to negotiate, among other things, because it affects the competence of many ministries with the significant responsibility of the Ministry of Finance. In addition, she pointed out that other sections of the negotiation, such as food security, rural development and agriculture, fisheries and energy, in many areas depend on the infrastructure achieved in waste management, waste water management and industrial pollution control. She also said that now it will be good to take advantage of momentum when we are because after more than ten years of “ knocking on the EU’s door, have the door opened,” and mobilize teams for each chapter.
Representative of the ENV.net project (ENV.net Serbia/EASD) participated at this meeting.
By invitation of the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia, EASD -ENV.net Serbia representative participated to the public hearing by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Study Group , held in Belgrade on 30 January 2014. The main purpose of this public hearing was presentation and discussion of EESC opinion on The role of civil society in EU Serbia relations adopted in July 2013. In addition, CSOs were informed about the EU-Serbia Joint Consultative Committee (JCC).
The EESC Study Group Delegation was composed of Dimitris Dimitriadis, Former President of the EESC and President of the Study Group on The role of civil society in EU-Serbia relations (Employers’ Group, Greece), Ionut Sibian, President of the Western Balkans Follow-up Committee and Rapporteur for this Opinion (Various interests’ group, Romania), and Christoph Lechner, Co-Rapporteur for this Opinion (Employees’ Group, Austria).
On January 30, 2014 in the premises of the Government of Serbia Office for European Integration held a thematic meeting of the SECO mechanism (established in Serbia in 2011, enabling civil society participation in planning and monitoring of EU and other international development assistance) . EASD – ENV.net Serbia is the leading organization for SECO sector environment and energy, together with CEKOR – Center for Ecology and Sustainable Development and the Center for Civil Society Development Protecta.
Topics discussed include:
1 Presentation documents IPA 2014-2016 intervention logic: discussion on priority topics and the order of the sectoral support for IPA 2014-2016 (link to the objectives, priorities and measures over the document) – document was presented at the meeting;
2 Program support to the sector and the further course of programming;
3 The participation of civil society in the programming of IPA II – Indicative calendar of events for programming in 2014. year.
EASD – ENV.net Serbia representative at this meeting was Filip Jovanovic. Representatives of other leading CSOs were presented, as well as representatives by competent Ministry (of Energy, Development and Environmental Protection) and Office for European Integration.
The first EU-Serbia Accession Conference, Brussels, 21 January 2014
Serbia is taking another important step on its path to the European Union. This first accession conference marks the beginning of a new and crucial phase in EU relationship with Serbia. It is a well-deserved recognition of the progress made over the past years. However, hard work will be needed and many challenges lie ahead…..