The planned investments in environmental protection in the Budget for 2022 are 85% higher than this year’s plan. Donations and loans are also available to us – all in total around 300 million euros. If all that money is used for its intended purpose, more wastewater treatment plants, cleaner air in some cities and less waste and more recycling could be expected.
Along with the budget of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of 130.5 million euros and 76 million euros from credit lines, 100 million euros are intended for environmental projects in the Ministry of Construction.
“The most significant funds are 25 million euros for incentives for reuse and utilization of waste, 10 million euros for the district heating project in Kragujevac, 9.8 million euros for the improvement of infrastructure for environmental protection, 8.7 million euros for the construction of a regional center for waste management,” notes Mirjana Lukić from the Ministry of Finance.
State Secretary in the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Jelena Tanasković, states that 67 million euros are from a potential loan with the Council of Europe bank.
“Where 200 million euros were approved, where we projected that we would withdraw for realization during the next year, that means the construction of a purifier and the missing sewerage network in 26 units,” Tanaskovic states.
There is much more money available from European banks for environmental investments than there are good projects.
Matteo Colangeli, EBRD Director for the Western Balkans and Serbia’s office, points out that next year a project will be implemented in several cities, where renewable energy technologies, primarily solar and geothermal, will be introduced for district heating systems and heat pumps.
“It is a project that will bring technological innovations, greater energy security of the country and, of course, better air quality for the citizens,” adds Colangeli.
There are not enough experts in this field
For the first time, environmental allocations reached half a percent of gross domestic product.
“If we consistently go to the circular economy, we can raise the GDP of the Republic of Serbia by one percent annually, if we spend wisely and invest wisely and if we start private capital that can be combined,” said Sinisa Mitrovic from the Serbian Chamber of Commerce.
According to the analysis of the Fiscal Council, due to decades of neglect of the environment, in the coming years it is necessary to invest at least 500 million euros, and employ a large number of experts in that field.
“Some of our recommendations were that as early as next year, about 500 people, missing staff, can be hired. The budget would not feel it, in principle, there was room, and that is again only the first step. It is necessary to find more qualified professionals in order for this area to move forward,” notes Slobodan Minić from the Fiscal Council.
Serbia now has six employees in the field of environmental protection per 100,000 inhabitants, and Slovenia, for example, had 10 times more in 2003, RTS reports.
