Caglavica, 5 October 2010 - Kosovo is facing serious environmental issues and throughout the last years adopted a series of laws that seek to provide for a framework for reforms and implementing measures that help Kosovo move towards European standards in the area of the environment.

The Kosovo Progress Report 2009 stated that “overall, Kosovo is at an early stage in alignment with European environmental standards. There is some progress to report in the environmental field; particularly as regards the adoption of legislation”. However, it also mentioned the following aspects:

• There are no water treatment plants
• Only 70% of population are connected to drinking water networks
• Only a third is connected to sewerage system
• The establishment of river basin authorities has not progressed
• There is no air quality strategy
• Both water and waste companies suffer from low billing and collection rates
• No progress in the waste management sector
• The budget of the Ministry of Environment is the lowest of any Ministry in Kosovo

Meeting European standards in environment is one of the most expensive areas for candidates and potential candidates. Despite these costs, Kosovars deserve to benefit from water and air that meets the same quality as that of their other European counterparts, as well as efficient disposal of waste. These standards are not being met, which represents a cost for health and quality of life, not to mention an obstacle to businesses in Kosovo.
“Water, Air quality and Waste management – what has been done?“ was the theme of the fourth debate on Kosovo’s Progress Report. Media and civil society were invited to discuss this with the panelists:
Mr. Mahir Yagcilar, Minister for Environment and Spatial Planning
Mr. Kjartan Bjornsson, Head of Operations, EC Liaison Office
Mr. Ilir Morina, Head of the Kosovar Agency for Environment Protection and
Mr. Luan Shllaku, Director of Kosovo Foundation for Open Society (KFOS)

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