Eco Consults

After almost twenty years of leading the process of European integration in Macedonia, as Head of the EU Sector and IPA Coordinator in the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning and Head of the Working Group for Chapter 27 in the Government of RSM, from July 2018, Ivanova works as the team leader of a program funded by the Swedish government that supports the Albanian administration in preparing for the negotiations with the EU on the chapter on environment and climate change – “Supporting Albanian Negotiations in Environment Chapter 27 (SANE 27)”.

Now that we have received a positive decision to start accession negotiations with the EU, what steps will follow for Northern Macedonia for Chapter 27 – Environment and Climate Change?
In accordance with the decision, the European Council gave the task to the European Commission (EC) to continue the monitoring process, and according to the new methodology, starting with the chapters in the “Basic Values” cluster, which in a way presented the timeline at the start of screening. Immediately after these chapters, I believe that screening will begin for the rest. It is characteristic of Chapter 27 that the EC screening begins with the submission of the so-called bilateral screening questionnaire containing around 1000 questions on, at present, 73 EU directives and regulations in the field of environment and climate change. By answering the questions, the Macedonian administration should present the situation regarding the three aspects of negotiations, namely, for each EU legal act: the degree of compliance with domestic legislation, administrative capacity, and the degree of implementation of directives and regulations. The Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, together with other authorities in this area, should be held accountable for the extent to which domestic legislation is in line with relevant EU legislation, as well as the competent authorities and the capacity to implement them. However, most of the questions relate to how the specific provisions (articles) of each EU legal act (directive and regulation) in this area are implemented. should answer to what extent the domestic legislation is harmonized with the relevant EU legal acts, as well as which are the competent authorities and what capacities they have for implementation. However, most of the questions relate to how the specific provisions (articles) of each EU legal act (directive and regulation) in this area are implemented. should answer to what extent the domestic legislation is harmonized with the relevant EU legal acts, as well as which are the competent authorities and what capacities they have for implementation. However, most of the questions relate to how the specific provisions (articles) of each EU legal act (directive and regulation) in this area are implemented.

What innovations has the new methodology imposed in relation to Chapter 27?
Taking into account the new Negotiation Methodology, the opening of negotiations for each chapter will depend on the fulfillment of predetermined priorities and / or benchmarks, for each chapter separately, which will be set out in the screening report or in the regular annual progress reports published by the Commission. . Through these priorities, the Commission will monitor the progress of each country and will accordingly propose to the European Council the start of negotiations on a specific chapter. In addition to answering the questions, it is important to give a brief overview of future actions to be taken by the competent authorities in relation to the three aspects of negotiation: transposition, administrative capacity and implementation of legislation. Therefore I recommend, in addition to answering the screening questions,

What makes this chapter different from the others and what approach would be best in the negotiations?
Chapter 27 is one of the most complex and expensive chapters. It covers several areas that are directly related to people’s daily lives. In terms of the volume of legislation to be harmonized, it is the second in a row and covers ten different areas. The other chapters basically require changes in administrative procedures, ways of regulating matters, and regulating decision-making processes. The environment chapter, to a large extent, requires changes that encompass the daily habits and practices of citizens and businesses. For example, how to throw waste, how to behave in nature, how to manage an economic activity. A big challenge is how to reach every citizen and business entity and convey the message correctly. To do this requires a big change, thorough reforms that require a lot of time and work, as well as commitment and perseverance. Additionally, in order to meet the obligations related only to the requirements for waste and water management, the Republic of Northern Macedonia needs approximately 1000 Euros per capita. This requires the state authorities to have a very clear strategy and plan on how to provide these funds and how to use them. Due to the huge financial needs, Chapter 27 may require transitional periods in the negotiation process. That is, an additional deadline may be required, after EU membership, for the implementation of specially appointed members of certain directives. In order to approve a transition period, the state should prepare specific plans for the implementation of the directive, which should specify the measures to be taken, deadlines and how they will be financed. It is very wise to decide what measures will be met after joining the EU. Such a decision could mean conserving domestic resources and using EU funds as a member state that are almost three times larger for the environment than those we now have at our disposal. A good negotiation strategy can mean making better use of the benefits of EU accession.

Which area within Chapter 27 do you think will be the biggest problem or challenge for Northern Macedonia?
In my opinion, for two areas we will have difficulties in meeting the requirements of EU legislation: waste management and water. The challenge in water management will be how to provide the financial resources needed to implement legislation in this area. However, in essence, the requirements are more related to the fulfillment of obligations by the respective administrations. In 2017, a Specific Plan for the implementation of the Wastewater Treatment Directive and the Drinking Water Directive was prepared, estimating that 1.2 billion euros are needed for their implementation, with an implementation deadline of 2040. For these two directives we will probably require a transition period. This is the case with all countries that have negotiated with the EU, because, for every settlement with more than 2000 inhabitants there should be a system of wastewater collection and treatment. In Northern Macedonia we need to build 87 treatment plants, 16 of which should provide stricter tertiary wastewater treatment. The implementation of the requirements can be achieved only with good planning of the available funds and good negotiation of the transition periods, all in order to better use the EU funds during the negotiation, as well as after the accession.

Waste management, although it costs significantly less, around 200-300 million euros, is a much more complex area to implement because citizens are very sensitive on this issue. The “just not in my yard” syndrome has gripped the country from the first moment when studies were prepared for the construction of regional landfills for municipal waste. Although these landfills are more waste management centers, with less than 20% of the waste to be disposed of, the public is still protesting the construction of a landfill near them. The public is not sufficiently aware of the need and advantage of having an integrated waste management system in which there is a modern landfill and a system of transfer stations that will operate using the most modern available technologies. We are witnessing that the population, and some civil society organizations, they encouraged and celebrated as correct the decisions of the population for a referendum to ban the construction of landfills near them. It seems that other settlements in the Republic of Northern Macedonia do not have this right to a referendum. Nobody thought what if we all vote for such a referendum. What will we do with the waste we create, where will we throw it, can we export it, will someone approve it now that we have voted that we do not want to import waste ?. At the same time, the application of the circular economy, which is a priority in Europe, can hardly be implemented without having a free movement of waste that can be a raw material for someone else. I consider that the ban on the import of waste, no matter what it refers to, has been adopted more than the need to please the public, without understanding all aspects and principles of the EU, nor is it appropriate for our EU integration process. Because of this, I believe that waste management will be our biggest challenge in the negotiation process with the EU. Public authorities should pay special attention to informing the public, training the local administration and involving all stakeholders in decision-making, which can only be right if they are in the spirit of the hierarchy in waste management and are in accordance with the principles of circular economy. I always say that we are not rich enough to throw away waste irreversibly, but we must use all its potential to protect our natural resources. Because of this, I believe that waste management will be our biggest challenge in the negotiation process with the EU. Public authorities should pay special attention to informing the public, training local administration and involving all stakeholders in decision-making, which can only be right if they are in the spirit of the waste management hierarchy and are in line with the principles of circular economy. I always say that we are not rich enough to throw away waste irreversibly, but we must use all its potential to protect our natural resources. Because of this, I believe that waste management will be our biggest challenge in the negotiation process with the EU. Public authorities should pay special attention to informing the public, training local administration and involving all stakeholders in decision-making, which can only be right if they are in the spirit of the waste management hierarchy and are in line with the principles of circular economy. I always say that we are not rich enough to dump waste irreversibly, but we must use all its potential to protect our natural resources. training of the local administration and involvement of all stakeholders in decision making, which can only be right if they are in the spirit of the hierarchy in waste management and are in accordance with the principles of circular economy. I always say that we are not rich enough to dump waste irreversibly, but we must use all its potential to protect our natural resources. training of the local administration and involvement of all stakeholders in decision making, which can only be right if they are in the spirit of the hierarchy in waste management and are in accordance with the principles of circular economy. I always say that we are not rich enough to throw away waste irreversibly, but we must use all its potential to protect our natural resources.

How do you assess the situation with the compliance and implementation of EU environmental legislation in the Republic of Northern Macedonia?
Northern Macedonia has a good degree of harmonization of domestic legislation with that of the EU. In the last analysis made for 2016, the compliance rate in Chapter 27 – Environment and Climate Change was more than 60%. This figure varies from one area to another, with a high percentage of compliance in the area of horizontal legislation, noise and air, while the weakest compliance is in the area of climate change legislation, which is quite understandable, because. this is newer legislation within the EU as well.

Much needs to be done to implement the legislation. It can be said that it is partially implemented, and varies from district to district. In some areas we are at the initial level, such as air and waste, while in others we have a good level of implementation, but still not enough to meet EU requirements. It is especially necessary to pay attention to the implementation of nature protection legislation, which due to lack of finances, has been neglected for a long time. The implementation of the legislation requires not only financial resources, but also adequate administrative capacity at national and local level, as well as good planning of the measures to be taken. We are negotiating with the EU only until we ensure full implementation of the legislation. It must be implemented at the time of EU accession, except for those articles of the directives for which we will have approved transition periods. The experience of previous enlargements shows that the environment and climate change sector is becoming a priority on the agendas of national governments with the opening of negotiations with the EU. Therefore, I believe that the decision to start negotiations with the EU will have the greatest benefits of Chapter 27. However, we must be careful and responsible. If this chapter is not paid attention to in time, it can be an obstacle for EU membership, because you enter the EU with fulfilled requirements for all chapters and you can not become a member with only a few chapters. The right time for Chapter 27 comes with the opening of the negotiations and I am very glad that this process has started. Experience from previous enlargements shows that the environment and climate change sector is becoming a priority on the agendas of national governments with the opening of negotiations with the EU. Therefore, I believe that the decision to start negotiations with the EU will have the greatest benefits of Chapter 27. However, we must be careful and responsible. If this chapter is not paid attention to in time, it can be an obstacle for EU membership, because you enter the EU with fulfilled requirements for all chapters and you can not become a member with only a few chapters. The right time for Chapter 27 comes with the opening of the negotiations and I am very glad that this process has started. Experience from previous enlargements shows that the environment and climate change sector is becoming a priority on the agendas of national governments with the opening of negotiations with the EU. Therefore, I believe that the decision to start negotiations with the EU will have the greatest benefits of Chapter 27. However, we must be careful and responsible. If this chapter is not paid attention to in time, it can be an obstacle for EU membership, because you enter the EU with fulfilled requirements for all chapters and you can not become a member with only a few chapters. The right time for Chapter 27 comes with the opening of the negotiations and I am very glad that this process has started. I believe that the decision to start negotiations with the EU will have the greatest benefits of Chapter 27. However, we must be careful and responsible. If this chapter is not paid attention to in time, it can be an obstacle for EU membership, because you enter the EU with fulfilled requirements for all chapters and you can not become a member with only a few chapters. The right time for Chapter 27 comes with the opening of the negotiations and I am very glad that this process has started. I believe that the decision to start negotiations with the EU will have the greatest benefits of Chapter 27. However, we must be careful and responsible. If this chapter is not paid attention to in time, it can be an obstacle for EU membership, because you enter the EU with fulfilled requirements for all chapters and you can not become a member with only a few chapters. The right time for Chapter 27 comes with the opening of the negotiations and I am very glad that this process has started.

Tirana, March 2020 31/03/2020

Original article published on:
https://eu.org.mk/jadranka-ivanova-upravuvanjeto-so-otpadot-kje-bide-nas-najgolem-predizvik-vo-pregovorite-so-eu