“Environmental Sectoral Operational Program for IPA 3 for 2024-2027 is based on the national sectoral policies in the field of water and waste management, as well as on the strategic documents of the EU for the Western Balkans. With this, we envisage the implementation of infrastructure projects for the management of the waters and waste that are directly intended and support the work of the local self-government”- announced the Minister of Environment and Physical Planning, Kaja Shukova in her welcome speech at the event for the presentation of the Program and consultation of all stakeholders in relation to it.
Namely, the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, in cooperation with the Secretariat for European Affairs, supported by the project “Support for Policy Reform, Accession and Effectiveness” (SUPRAE) financed by the EU and the Delegation of the EU in Skopje, made a comprehensive analysis of the needs and of the projects that would be proposed for financing under IPA 3. The main selection criteria were the maturity of the projects and their direct contribution to meeting the requirements of the Euro-integration process for Chapter 27 on environment and climate change.
The Head of Cooperation in the EU Delegation, Steffen Hudolin, in his speech emphasized the importance of the communication of the sectoral working group for environment and climate action with all stakeholders in relation to the new Sectoral Operational Program because the upcoming tasks require cooperation and joint realization. According to him, the marked path of North Macedonia towards the EU requires strategic planning, monitoring and focusing on priorities in the environment.
Unlike IPA 2, where more attention is devoted to improving technical capacities, in IPA 3 the focus is placed on investments in the environment.
In this Sectoral Environmental Operational Program for IPA 3 for 2024-2027, a project for the expansion and rehabilitation of the sewage network in Veles and the construction of a treatment plant for approximately 53,000 equivalent inhabitants in the amount of 37 million euros is foreseen.
The second significant project is the completion of the regional waste management system for the Eastern and Northeastern regions. Through IPA 2, the first phase is being implemented, where equipment – vehicles – have already been procured for the collection of waste for public utility companies and the closure of illegal dumpsites in the South-Eastern region has begun. At the same time, the tender for the construction of the dumpsite and transfer stations will start soon. With the Sectoral Operational Program, the necessary equipment for the dumpsite will be procured, the remaining illegal dumpsites will be closed and equipment will be provided for all municipalities for waste selection in these two regions. The investment is worth 36.5 million euros.
The third project refers to technical support for the implementation of the operational program. In these project, EU co-financing amounts to 70 million euros. As backup project, the preparation of documentation, as well as the implementation of an infrastructure project for the expansion of the sewage system and the construction of a treatment plant for Kavadarci, as well as the upgrading of the system for the removal and purification of waste water in Tetovo, for which, in addition to domestic co-financing, will be considered the possibility of co-financing the projects from other donors or loans.
The implementation of the Sectoral Operational Program is the responsibility of the MOEPP, SEA, but also of the municipalities in which the projects are implemented. At the same time, the Department for Central Financing and signing of the agreement and the Delegation of the EU in Skopje are equally responsible. According to Minister Shukova, the key to the successful implementation is cooperation and joint action aimed at fulfilling the goals of the program. On the other hand, investing in the environment in our country is key to negotiations with the EU, and without sufficient and efficient funding in the environment sector, we will not be able to fulfill the requirements of the EU legislation that will affect the time frame for our country’s accession to the EU.
The presentation was attended by representatives from the EU Delegation in Skopje, representatives of the diplomatic and donor community in North Macedonia, international financial institutions and organizations, representatives of the local self-government and their associations and the non-governmental sector.