The Secretariat welcomes Serbia’s recent adoption of environmental laws

The Energy Community Secretariat welcomes Serbia's recent adoption of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Law and the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Law. These laws are expected to improve the sustainability of projects and plans while providing stronger safeguards for the environment. The Secretariat actively supported Serbian authorities during the drafting process, offering expertise and guidance to ensure alignment with the Energy Community acquis.

The EIA law addresses the breach identified in Ministerial Council Decision 2021/09/MC-EnC, which highlighted Serbia’s incomplete transposition of EIA Directive 2014/52/EU. The law introduces several practical improvements to the EIA process, including extending the public consultation period to 40 days to allow for greater input from communities and stakeholders. It also incorporates external expert assessments to enhance the quality of EIA reports. A key addition is the requirement to obtain an EIA decision before applying for development consent, effectively closing a critical gap in the previous framework.

The SEA law ensures that plans and programs related to Network Energy undergo a thorough assessment of their environmental impacts, aligning with EU standards and best practices for sustainability.

These legislative advancements represent an important milestone in Serbia’s efforts to strengthen environmental governance and promote sustainable development. The Energy Community Secretariat remains committed to assisting Serbia and other Contracting Parties in meeting their obligations under the Energy Community acquis.