Serbia’s Minister of Environmental Protection, Sara Pavkov, highlighted that the government is progressively increasing its financial commitment to environmental protection, with this year’s budget allocation reaching 23.8 billion dinars. She emphasized that this demonstrates the government’s recognition of the importance of environmental issues.
In an interview with K1 television, Pavkov addressed key environmental challenges, including waste management, wastewater treatment, improving air quality, and expanding protected areas. These areas, she noted, will be the primary focus of her ministry in the coming years.
Pavkov explained that, in 2010, Serbia allocated just five billion dinars to environmental protection, a stark contrast to the current figure of over 23 billion dinars. She described this increase as a strong indicator of the growing significance placed on the environment by the Serbian government. However, she also pointed out that while more funds are essential, other mechanisms and international collaborations must be utilized to strengthen these budgets further.
Despite the increased funding, Pavkov acknowledged that more resources are always needed for environmental efforts, stressing that even countries with a higher GDP than Serbia face challenges in this area. She noted that the complexity of nature and the interference humans cause in it means that financial resources alone are insufficient to address environmental issues. She cited the example of countries that, despite significant progress in implementing environmental projects over the last two decades, still struggle with funding shortages.
The future of environmental protection in Serbia
Pavkov also discussed the alignment of Serbia’s environmental policies with the EU, particularly within the framework of EU Cluster 4, or Chapter 27. She stated that environmental protection will continue to gain importance in the coming decades, gradually moving up the public and political agenda. This trend, she said, makes it crucial for everyone to be actively involved in addressing environmental issues.
When asked about the biggest obstacles to environmental progress, Pavkov identified the shortage of funds as well as the challenge of managing numerous local-level projects. However, she assured that her ministry is providing maximum support to these projects. Another challenge, she added, is the misrepresentation of information, which often leads to wasted time and confusion. She emphasized that the Ministry of Environmental Protection will adopt a more proactive approach to clarify its actions and responsibilities.
Reflecting on her role as the youngest minister in the government, Pavkov expressed confidence in her team and the strong foundations already laid in environmental protection. She acknowledged the significant responsibility on her shoulders but highlighted the good team dynamic that will enable them to continue advancing environmental goals more quickly and ambitiously. She concluded that their collective efforts will help implement strategic initiatives to protect the environment in Serbia.
