Implementation of the environmental impact assessment in Serbia in the EU integration context: current state and recommendations

In the process of European integration, Serbia must meet the EU’s minimum standards regarding assessing the impact of industrial and infrastructure projects and planning documents on the environment. Therefore, we are talking about procedures of significant importance for preventing and reducing the harmful effects of human activities on the environment.

What are the public administration’s existing institutional solutions and capacities regarding implementing impact assessment? To what extent does the public participate in the proceedings? Is the implementation of impact assessment in Serbia harmonized with European standards? Based on a thorough analysis, the study provides answers to these and related questions with a focus on assessing the impact of projects at the local level and offers recommendations for further improvement of the procedure.

The study was prepared as part of the “Think – act – influence” project, which the European Policy Centre jointly implements and the Ecological Center “Habitat and Organization Serbia on the Move”. The project is financed by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway in Belgrade and co-financed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of the Government of Serbia.