The degree of implementation of the IPA aid for the environment and the acceleration of the process of using the IPA grant funds were the main topic of today’s meeting of the Minister of Environment and Physical Planning, Kaja Shukova with the Head of the Delegation of the European Union H.E. David Geer accompanied by the Head of Cooperation in the EU Delegation to North Macedonia, Steffen Hudolin and the Program Officer for Infrastructure Projects dedicated to Climate Change, Environment, and Natural Resources Davide Bixio.
Minister Shukova expressed gratitude for the support that the EU has provided not only to the MOEPP in the environmental area but also to the state in general in achieving EU standards.
At the working meeting, special emphasis was placed on the implementation of the large IPA projects for the construction of treatment plants and sewerage networks in Bitola and Tetovo, as well as the project for regional waste management in the Eastern and North-Eastern planning regions.
In the air section, the topic of the significance of ratifying the Gothenburg Protocol on Transboundary Air Pollution was opened, as well as the need to intensify activities in terms of identifying potential NATURA 2000 areas in the country and fulfilling the obligations to the CITES convention on cross-border trade in wild species. The Delegation emphasized that the continuation of the reform processes in the priority areas of the environment is of equal importance.
Also, Minister Shukova informed about the actions undertaken by the Government to preserve the UNESCO status of the Ohrid region, about the activities that the MOEPP undertakes to fulfill the obligations of the Green Agenda, as well as about the status of the preparatory work within the framework of the IPA3 action document – EU 4 Prespa.
The common view was that the sectoral working groups for the environment and climate action should in the future expand their focus of action and became a platform for the exchange of views, experiences, and coordination with other donors and international financial institutions to support the accession process of the Republic of North Macedonia towards the EU.