The Center for Legal Research and Analysis as part of the project “Environmental governance project” on November 19, 2021, at the TCC Grand Plaza Hotel, held the second focus group for preparing a new set of criminal provisions in the new Criminal Code regarding the protection of the environment with the members of the working group for amendments to the criminal code. This focus group was followed by a focus group with CSOs working in the field of environment.
The focus group, like the first one, was conceived as an open discussion on the topic: “New and amended criminal provisions in the field of environmental protection”. In the introductory part, the program manager at CLRA, Nikola Jovanovski, gave welcoming speeches. Mr. Jovanovski introduced the participants to this component of the project and elaborated on the aim of this action. The amendments drafted, for the criminal provisions by the working group for amendments to the Criminal Code, were reviewed by three experts who also proposed new criminal provisions in the field of environment, following the examples of the surrounding countries, as well as the EU countries whose legislation may be applicable in our country.
In the second part, the two legal experts, the lawyer Emil Miftari and prof. Dr. Olga Kosevaliska and the technical expert, biologist Ana Colovic Lesoska presented the analysis of the proposed criminal provisions in relation to this issue, the shortcomings, also proposals for overcoming them, as well as newly proposed criminal provisions. After each provision and proposal for its amendment, the views and suggestions of the participants were discussed. Additionally, the working materials were distributed to all present participants in order to be able to submit their comments in writing within a week.
The discussion was met with many positive comments, but also resulted in a fruitful discussion with many ideas from the audience and suggestions for improving the text of the provisions
