Environment
EU adopts rules for CBAM transitional phase starting on October 1
18 August 2023 - Importers of electricity, aluminium, cement, fertilizers, hydrogen, iron, and steel to the EU will be charged a carbon border tax from 2026
Post of Serbia introduces first electric vehicles
15 August 2023 - By the end of the month, the postal company will start using 31 electric delivery vans for its services in the center of Novi Sad
EU blocks wastewater treatment project in Kosovo* due to sanctions
15 August 2023 - The European Union suspended grants and investments in wastewater treatment systems in Kosovo* as part of sanctions against the government
Hidroelectrica’s Danube Delta wind park project angers environmentalists
08 August 2023 - Hidroelectrica is working on a wind farm project worth over EUR 650 million in a protected area in the Danube Delta, with the government's support
Earth Overshoot Day 2023 – humanity’s biocapacity consumption turns unsustainable
02 August 2023 - Earth Overshoot Day for 2023 falls on August 2. It is when humanity's consumption of natural resources and services turns unsustainable for the rest of the year.
EU aligns sustainability reporting with global standards, but slammed for ‘watering down’ requirements
01 August 2023 - The new rules have drawn criticism for “watering down” the sustainability reporting requirements and smoothing the way for greenwashing
Sweden blocks Vattenfall’s offshore wind project to protect nature, shipping
31 July 2023 - The proposed wind farm would have produced between 2.5 TWh and 3 TWh a year, an equivalent of 1.5% of Sweden’s electricity consumption
Controversial coal plant project Ugljevik 3 in BiH clings on top court’s decision
28 July 2023 - The Republic of Srpska has suspended the environmental permit procedure for the proposed Ugljevik 3 coal-fired power plant
BiH gets EUR 37 million loan for flood protection projects
27 July 2023 - The financing will help deliver infrastructure investments, such as dikes, dams, and water reservoirs, which support flood protection
Republic of Srpska presents plan to resolve issues over hydropower project Buk Bijela
25 July 2023 - The delegation of the Republic Srpska held a working meeting with the Director of UNESCO for World Heritage, Lazare Eloundou Assomo
Slovenia to install solar power plants along highways
24 July 2023 - The first project will be implemented by Soške Elektrarne Nova Gorica and Družba za Avtoceste v Republiki Sloveniji
Croatian Chamber of Commerce establishes ESG rating for companies
21 July 2023 - ESG ratings will be assigned to firms based on their approach to environmental, social, and governance practices
Two major solar power projects in Bulgaria highlight land use disputes
19 July 2023 - A village mayor in Bulgaria is refusing to endorse a PV project on pastures, while Eurohold will build one on lowest-grade land and boost biodiversity
Serbia’s EPS: PM emissions reduced 90% over last 20 years
14 July 2023 - Emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide have also been lowered, Elektroprivreda Srbije said
EU shifting focus from crisis response to net zero agenda
14 July 2023 - The EU suggested it would ask UN member states to double energy efficiency improvements and triple renewable energy deployment by 2030
Three carbon capture projects in Balkans get grants from EU’s Innovation Fund
14 July 2023 - The EU selected Motor Oil Hellas, Titan Cement and Holcim's subsidiary in Croatia among 41 firms for grants from the Innovation Fund