On June 10, 2021 (Thursday), a working meeting of the Platform for Environmental Justice was held on the premises of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts.
Present:
Acad. Vlado Kambovski – Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Elena Mujoska Trpevska – Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Hristina Odžaklieska – Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning
Anja Jovanova – Front 21/42
Marjan Mihailov – Expert
Marija Milkova – Crisis Management Center
Baze Dimitriovski – Ministry of Internal Affairs
Darko Blinkov – State Environmental Inspectorate
Jasna Orovchanec Arandjelovic – Macedonian Association of Young Lawyers
Zharko Hadji-Zafirov – Center for Legal Research and Analysis
Ana Vasileva – Center for Legal Research and Analysis
The working meeting was led by the president of the Platform for Environmental Justice, Academician Vlado Kambovski, focusing on three points: presentation of the Roadmap for the implementation of environmental policies and a discussion of the current developments in our country regarding the Draft Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on urban planning, after abbreviated procedure and Proposal of the law for determining the legal status of illegally built buildings.
Academician Kambovski, as one of the authors of the Roadmap, presented the key findings from it. At the same time, he emphasized that it is a fortunate circumstance that the awareness of action and making changes to improve the environment is growing. In order to achieve the objectives of the Platform for Environmental Justice, the Roadmap represents a rough plan for directing the work of the Platform, and also represents part of the overall preparations that the RNM should carry out before and after the start of negotiations for its membership in the European Union. regarding the harmonization of the legal system of the RNM with EU law in the priority areas of rule of law and human rights (Chapters 23 and 24) and environmental protection (Chapter 27).
The concept of creating public policies in environmental protection integrates three basic components: public policies, environment and environmental justice. When talking about the policy in the environmental sphere as a public policy, Academician Kambovski emphasized that it is not only the guarantee of transparency and accountability that is meant but also the creation and implementation of the policy in the protection and improvement of the environment by all segments of society. (citizens, civil associations, legal entities and public institutions). Environmental justice is a modern concept that rises from the framework of environmental protection and reaches the postulate of justice, and as the weakest element of environmental rights, he highlighted judicial protection of the environment.
The project manager at CPIA, Zharko Hadzi-Zafirov, also had his presentation, he emphasized that the impact on the environment is a long and slow process and it is crucial that citizens recognize the interest in the process of environmental protection. That is why the Platform in which people from different profiles are members should enable an analytical approach, i.e. a multidisciplinary approach, and when creating the legal solutions to help the state authorities in understanding all the implications (financial, criminal, misdemeanor, administrative, technical…) that would that law had in society.
The Deputy Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, Hristina Odzaklieska, expressed her great satisfaction that the professional field is also interested in the protection and improvement of the environment. He cited impunity and failure to act after violations of the right to a healthy environment as the biggest problem in environmental protection. Mrs. Odzaklieska informed the attendees that a series of laws have been drafted that regulate issues of interest for environmental protection that are in parliamentary procedure and she hopes that there will be support from all political entities, she especially emphasized the need for joint efforts and interdisciplinary approach in solving problems.
The second part of the meeting was devoted to the discussion of the two draft laws: Draft of the law on amending and supplementing the law on urban planning, after abbreviated procedure and Draft of the law on determining the legal status of illegally built buildings. The fruitful discussion on these two draft laws resulted in conclusions that will be translated into recommendations that will be submitted to the Parliament with the hope that during their next consideration these recommendations of the Platform for Environmental Justice will be taken into account.
All those present at the working meeting agreed that at their next meeting it is necessary to invite members from the Ministry of Transport and Communications as main proponents of these two laws, the public prosecutor’s office as well as constitutional judges as directly interested parties in this process.
At the end of the working meeting, the members of the Platform were informed that the part of the criminal code dedicated to crimes for the protection of the environment will be delivered to them in order to be reviewed and for the members to give their suggestions for a timely reaction of the Platform for Environmental Justice on this issue.