THE PROBLEM TO SOLVE
Serbia faces significant environmental challenges, including air and water pollution, inadequate waste management, and limited investment in environmental infrastructure. Addressing these issues requires comprehensive reforms to align with European Union (EU) environmental standards. Chapter 27 – Environment and Climate Change – is a key part of Serbia’s EU accession process, requiring progress in legislative alignment, nature protection, climate policy, and institutional capacity. Closing negotiations on this chapter depends on meeting critical benchmarks in these areas. Serbia must harmonize its environmental policies with EU directives by strengthening legislation on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), air quality, waste, water, industrial emissions, and accident risk management. Advancing nature protection and climate policy involves submitting a Natura 2000 site list, enforcing wildlife protections, adopting the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), and aligning national policies. Institutional capacity building is essential to ensure proper administration, financing, and coordination for sustainable implementation.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
To support Serbia in meeting these challenges, the overall objective of Chapter 27 Facility is to provide targeted technical assistance to align environmental policies with EU standards. The Facility offers flexible access to high-level expertise, helping Serbia navigate negotiations and strengthen environmental governance. One of the key challenges is balancing swift legislative transposition with practical and enforceable regulations. The Facility will support national institutions in drafting harmonized laws, conducting legal compatibility checks, and refining regulatory frameworks. Serbia has developed over 20 planning documents related to EU approximation, including the Action Plan for Administrative Capacities Development (APACD) and the Multiannual Investment and Financing Plan (MIFP), but gaps remain in translating these strategies into actionable policies. The Facility will bridge this gap by integrating best practices from EU member states, ensuring effective implementation at all levels. Environmental monitoring and reporting are critical to both national governance and EU compliance, yet Serbia’s reporting mechanisms face systemic weaknesses, such as fragmented data collection and outdated methodologies. The Facility will improve data management, streamline reporting, and align Serbia’s environmental reporting structures with EU standards, reinforcing longterm environmental governance.
RESULTS
The project will strengthen Serbia’s strategic planning, legal framework, and institutional capacity, supporting progress toward Chapter 27 compliance. It will establish priority areas in coordination with the Ministry of Environmental Protection, ensuring efforts focus on the most pressing legislative and policy gaps. At least 15 national planning documents will be developed or revised, including directive-specific implementation plans and long-term investment strategies. Legal harmonization will be a key component, with around 40 legal acts prepared to align Serbian regulations with EU environmental standards. In parallel, Serbia’s reporting mechanisms will be enhanced to comply with EU obligations for 10 priority directives. The project will also assess and refine the APACD and MIFP, providing targeted recommendations to improve governance and institutional efficiency. Capacity building will play a central role, with a comprehensive training plan and structured training activities. Knowledge exchange will be facilitated through three study visits to EU member states, enabling Serbian institutions to learn from best practices in environmental governance and compliance.
Duration - The project spans 30 months, from September 2023 to March 2026, with structured monitoring through periodic progress reports and technical assessments.
Beneficiary - The Ministry of Environmental Protection.
Contracting Authority - European Union Delegation to Serbia
Implementing Partners - DAI-led Consortium