Sandra Dokic, State Secretary of the Ministry of Environmental Protection - Our priorities are the improvement of air quality and the establishment of a waste and wastewater management system

The Ministry of Environmental Protection is working intensively on improving air quality, establishing a waste and wastewater management system, but one must be patient while waiting for visible results - says the State Secretary of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Sandra Dokic, in an interview for eKapija.

According to her, Serbia can learn a lot about environmental protection from the EU, especially from countries in our immediate environment, such as Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary.

As she says, in the process of green transition, the cooperation of all actors in society is necessary, and the project "EU for the Green Agenda in Serbia" is a good example of providing direct assistance to companies that are ready to tackle the challenges brought by the green transformation.


eKapija: What does the Ministry of Environmental Protection see as priorities when it comes to environmental protection in Serbia?

- The Ministry's priorities relate to improving air quality, establishing a waste and wastewater management system. Intensive work is being done on all of this, but it is necessary to be patient while waiting for visible results, because we are talking about large investments and infrastructure projects, the completion of which takes time. All the activities carried out by the Ministry simultaneously contribute to the implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, as one of the priorities of the Government of the Republic of Serbia.


eKapija: In which area has the biggest progress been achieved so far?

- We can say that a great progress has been made, not only through our Ministry, but also through others, numerous infrastructure projects related to waste and wastewater management, improvement of air quality and improvement of energy efficiency are financed and implemented. In all these activities, good cooperation with local government units is necessary. They show a great willingness to participate in all projects and to apply for our tenders, specifically intended for them. The awareness of people in cities and municipalities has risen and they need to improve the environment in their local community. This is very important to the Ministry, because without good cooperation at the central and local level, it is difficult to achieve the expected results.


eKapija: How do you assess Serbia's position in relation to the EU when it comes to environmental protection? What can we learn from the EU, from good examples or possible mistakes?

- There is a big difference between the EU member states that depends on the level of economic development of each state, so Serbia is in a worse position compared to some more developed countries in terms of the degree of environmental protection, whereas, when compared to some other countries, it is not. Much can be learned from the EU member states, especially from those in our immediate environment, such as Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary, which themselves are not all at the same level when it comes to this area. Good examples can be found in the way of establishing good waste management systems and applying modern technologies for wastewater treatment. We can also learn a lot from the challenges they faced at the very beginning of harmonization with EU environmental standards, which is also the task that lies ahead of us in the coming period.


eKapija: Companies often resist green transformation because all the financial burden falls on them. Does the state plan any financial relief for companies in the form of subsidies, tax reliefs, incentives, in order to motivate them to go on the path of green transition?

- The project "EU for the Green Agenda in Serbia" is a good example of providing direct assistance to companies that are ready to tackle the challenges brought by the green transformation. From the project idea to the actual implementation, they are provided with the support of experts who help them see the potential and sustainability of the investment itself. Companies, especially those that are export-oriented, will be faced with increasingly strict EU requirements regarding the carbon footprint they emit during production, and the "eco-friendly" products will have an advantage in their market. Competitiveness, and therefore profit, will be the main motivators for companies to recognize that green transformation represents a need and a potential, not just a cost.


eKapija: The Ministry of Environmental Protection cooperates with UNDP in the organization of various calls for innovations in the field of green transition. In your opinion, how important is the cooperation of all actors in society in the process of green transformation?

- It is extremely important, especially because private and public companies, small and medium enterprises, local government units, and even the academic community - universities and research institutions respond to calls for innovations that can accelerate the green transition.

The economy cannot do without innovation, the scientific research sector cannot do without the economy, the public sector should listen to their needs and create an environment for connecting them and, through such calls, motivate cooperation, the result of which will be the acceleration of green transformation.

eKapija: What are the further plans of the Ministry in the field of green transformation of the economy and society?

- Our plans are to create an environment and incentives that lead to a green transformation. It is also important to acquaint all relevant actors with the standards that already exist in the field of environmental protection in the EU, which will be our market standards in the future, but also leave certain deadlines for adjustment. In the upcoming period, the Ministry will invite companies to enter the process of obtaining the Eco-label, one of the steps towards being recognized as friends of the environment.

Ministarstvo zaštite životne sredine Republike Srbije

UNDP Beograd

Ministry of Environmental Protection

UNDP

Sandra Dokic

eco sign

green transition

green transformation

EU for the Green Agenda in Serbia

waste management

air pollution

Green Agenda for the Western Balkans

energy efficiency

environmental protection