Industrial facilities required to obtain an integrated permit represent the largest sources of pollution in Serbia. However, the implementation of the Law on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) over the past 20 years has failed to yield results. By the end of 2024, only 54 out of 220 obligated entities had obtained a permit, while the majority continue to operate illegally. A particular issue is that competent authorities do not reject incomplete applications; instead, they allow for the extension of deadlines, effectively protecting polluters.
Legislative amendments in 2015 and 2021 did not resolve fundamental issues but merely enabled further delays in obtaining integrated permits, coupled with a lack of analysis and adequate enforcement. In February 2025, a new draft law was announced, yet without an explanation as to why previous laws failed. Serbia continues to delay alignment with the EU Industrial Emissions Directive, using transitional periods as an excuse to maintain practices that endanger the environment.
Such conduct has serious consequences for the environment and public health – only 27% of industrial wastewater is treated, while 78% is discharged directly into watercourses. Furthermore, air with excessive pollution levels affects approximately 4 million citizens. Local communities in industrial zones suffer the most, bearing the brunt of poor oversight, ineffective penalties, and exclusion from decision-making processes.
Public Participation in Legislative Reform and Procedures for Effective Control and Protection from Industrial Pollution” contributes to identifying key issues within the integrated permitting system and increasing the involvement of the interested public in the drafting process of the new Law on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control. Through research and analysis of the foundations for the new law, as well as previous normative acts and practices, this project prepares recommendations for improving the Law and aligning it with EU requirements regarding the prevention of pollution from industrial activities.
The general objective of the project is to contribute to the transparency and improvement of the legal-institutional framework for industrial pollution control and prevention in the Republic of Serbia, in line with the goals of accession negotiations and accepted standards under Cluster 4, Chapter 27 – Environment and Climate Change.
Specific objectives of the project are as follows:
- To improve legal-institutional conditions for integrated pollution prevention and control by advocating for more accountable oversight and sanctioning practices, EU best practices, and the active participation of stakeholders in relevant decision-making processes;
- To enhance the cooperation, competencies, and influence of Members of Parliament, local councilors, civil society, and the expert community in making decisions related to integrated industrial pollution control and alignment with the acquis communautaire;
- To encourage the public to demand legal and institutional accountability and regulation of pollution originating from the industrial sector.
RERI is implementing the “Pollution-Free Horizons” project within the EKO-SISTEM program, implemented by Young Researchers of Serbia and supported by Sweden.
The project is implemented from May to November 2025.