North Macedonia Commits to Stronger Environmental Legislation

First Deputy PM and Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Izet Mexhiti met Thursday with Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, who is paying a visit to North Macedonia, CE Report quotes MIA.

Deputy PM Mexhiti voiced North Macedonia's commitment to intensify efforts towards full alignment of legislation and the system with the EU law and policies in the field of environment and climate.

"These efforts are clearly reflected in sectoral strategies and policies that include solid legislation, strengthening of national capacities for implementation of the EU law, as well as significant investments in infrastructure and new technologies," said Mexhiti.

The Deputy PM thanked the EU for its continued support and for being the top donor in North Macedonia's environment sector, including investments in renewable energy sources, transition from coal, projects for networking with the gas distribution systems of Kosovo and Serbia, as well as projects for waste and waste water management.

The largest challenges for the country in Chapter 27 - Environment is the water and waste water management, with the investment standing at EUR 1.2 billion that are to be used for the construction of 87 filtering stations, whereas the waste management system would cost about EUR 300 million, reads the press release.