Skopje, 3 July 2023 (MIA) - Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Kaja Shukova held a meeting on Monday in Brussels with EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, at which agreement between the European Union and the Republic of North Macedonia was signed for participation in the LIFE programme for environment and climate.

The LIFE programme is the EU's funding instrument for the environment and climate action. LIFE Programme contributes to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental and climate policy and laws by co-financing projects with a high European added value. It supports projects in the field of nature and biodiversity, circular economy and quality of life, mitigation and climate change adaptation and transition to clean energy, Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning said in a press release.

By signing the agreement on participation of the Republic of North Macedonia in the LIFE programme, as Minister Shukova said at the meeting, access to these financial mechanisms of the EU will be ensured for the first time, which will open up new opportunities for applying for projects and will enable better social involvement in the implementation of European policies for managing global challenges and implementing common goals for a healthier and less polluted environment, better protected nature and biodiversity, and a decarbonized future.

During the talks, Shukova briefed the EU Commissioner Sinkevičius on the current situation with environmental protection in our country.

She noted that as a country we are already partially fulfilling the goals of the LIFE programme for a change to a sustainable, climate-resilient economy, by setting the national medium- and long-term goals for decarbonization, with the commitment to the restoration of ecosystems and sustainable management of natural values, which is confirmed by the increase in the percentage of protected areas in our territory from 8.9% to 13.9% in the last two years. And commitments to build a green economy from ecosystem services for which we have great potential, as well as by introducing direct measures from the European environmental legislation in the economic reform policy 2022-2024, chapter on green agenda, which relate to wastewater treatment and establishing an integrated and financially self-sustainable waste management system, reads the press release.

According to Shukova, one of the key challenges in the coming period will be energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, as it is foreseen, the share of renewables in electricity will be 46% by 2025.

Key measures to the green transition include opening a platform in order to involve all stakeholders in the development of the circular economy; improving coordination between companies and central authorities and strengthening intersectoral cooperation for activities on further measures to improve air quality; and improving the wastewater treatment system by increasing the number of wastewater treatment plants.

For participation in the LIFE programme, the Government through the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning will provide funds amounting to €1,327,990 distributed over five years, from 2023 to 2027, reads the press release.

Photo: Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning