New regulations for environmental impact assessment of projects: 40-day public review and comments via video link

The Ministry of Environmental Protection has adopted two new regulations that regulate in detail the environmental impact assessment procedure in Serbia. The regulations, published in the Official Gazette, define how public hearings and expert assessment of project impact studies are conducted, thereby improving transparency and expertise in decision-making.

The first, the Regulation on the Procedure for Public Review, Public Presentation and Discussion and Preparation of Reports on the Conducted Public Hearing on the Environmental Impact Assessment Study, regulates public reviews and discussions, enabling citizens and interested institutions to obtain information about projects, review the studies and submit their comments. Public information is provided through the press, the Internet and local government bulletin boards, and public review lasts for 40 days, unless the law provides for a longer period.

During the public presentation and discussion, the project developer presents in detail all the estimated environmental impacts of the project, measures to mitigate them, as well as the alternatives considered. Those present have the right to ask questions, explain their objections and give opinions, which are recorded in the minutes of the competent authority. At the end of the discussion, a report on the public discussion is drawn up, which systematizes all objections and opinions and is submitted to the project owner and competent institutions.

The second, the Regulation on the Procedures of the Technical Committee for the Assessment of the Environmental Impact Assessment Study, prescribes in detail the work of the technical committee that assesses the study. The committee examines the compliance of the study with legal requirements, assesses all possible negative environmental impacts and assesses the proposed measures for their prevention, reduction or elimination. The committee also considers the objections and opinions of the public and interested authorities and may request amendments to the study if it assesses that the data is insufficient or inadequate.

Committee sessions can be held live or via video link, and upon completion of the assessment, the committee draws up a report with assessments and a draft decision, which includes all significant impacts of the project, an assessment of the proposed measures and the opinions of the committee members. Members who disagree with the draft decision can submit their dissenting opinion.

These regulations make the process more transparent, participatory and professional, as they combine the public’s right to insight and participation with the expert assessment of the technical commission, ensuring that decisions on projects are based on complete data and opinions of all relevant stakeholders.

What is new?

Until now, public insights and discussions on environmental impact assessment studies have existed mainly as a formal practice: citizens could obtain information through advertisements in newspapers or local bulletin boards, and comments and suggestions were often not systematically processed.

The new regulations from 2026 bring significant innovations that make the process more transparent and precise. It is now mandatory to inform the public also via the internet, with clearly defined deadlines - public insight lasts at least 40 days.

During the public discussion, all comments, questions and opinions are recorded, including those participating remotely via video link.

The Technical Committee, which evaluates the study, now has a clearly defined role: it must verify all project impacts, the adequacy of the proposed measures and their applicability, as well as compliance with the law.

If the Committee identifies deficiencies, it can request amendments or modifications to the study. Finally, the Committee’s report contains a systematic review of all objections, an assessment of the proposed measures, and an explanation of the decision, thereby significantly increasing transparency and accountability in project decision-making.

B. P.

Ministarstvo zaštite životne sredine Republike Srbije

Ministry of Environmental Protection

environmental impact assessment

Regulation on the Procedure for Public Review Public Presentation and Discussion and Preparation of Reports on the Conducted Public Hearing on the Environmental Impact Assessment Study

Regulation on the Procedures of the Technical Committee for the Assessment of the Environmental Impact Assessment Study

public review deadline

comments sent remotely via video link