Project Creation of a Monitoring, Reporting and Verifying System for Successful Implementation of EU Emissions Trading System was presented in Belgrade, aimed at harmonisation of Serbian legislation with the EU and continuous monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions stemming from industrial and power plants.
Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Oskar Benedikt said that the project was successfully implemented and highlighted that the issue of climate change was pivotal. He said that we could already note the effects of climate change, such as increased temperature with “partial consequence” being greater influx of refugees.
The two-year project was funded by the EU with €1 million and implemented in cooperation with French, German and Austrian government institutions as well as through the support from EU Delegation to Serbia. Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Oskar Benedikt also said that every country, including Serbia, would require a lot of money to adapt to climate change and added that EU was willing to support Serbia in that regard.
Investment in decreasing greenhouse gases emission is one of possible contributions in reviving Serbian industry and ensuring its competitiveness in the long run, said Serbian Minister of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Snezana Bogosavljevic Boskovic.
She said that Serbia was required to “implement the component dealing with monitoring, reporting and verifying in the first phase, whereas the beginning of emission trading system depends on the outcome of EU accession negotiations with European Commission.” Minister Bogosavljevic Boskovic pointed out that 128 industrial and power plants would be responsible for implementation of monitoring, reporting and verifying greenhouse gases emission during the implementation of the project.
Ambassador of France to Serbia Christine Moro said that fighting climate change was at the same time “an opportunity and a source of innovation and increased competitiveness.”
