FBiH government proposes bill to strengthen polluter pays principle

The government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) has proposed a bill seeking to strengthen the polluter pays principle and more clearly define the energy efficiency activities of the Environmental Protection Fund, including by renaming it the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund.

The polluter pays principle envisaged under the bill on the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund would fine polluters based not on emissions, but on their impact on air or area pollution, according to a statement on the FBiH government’s website.

Fees to be charged to polluters will enable setting up a “green budget” to finance environmental protection, conservation, and improvement programs.

Under the bill, the fund would also be in charge of financing energy programs, projects, and other activities in the areas of energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources.

The fund’s revenues to be used for financing environmental protection and energy efficiency are to come from fees charged for pollution and the use of natural resources, as well as the special environmental protection fee paid at motor vehicle registration. Of these revenues, the fund is to keep 30%, while 40% would go to cantons and 30% to municipalities.

The fund would also be financed – and these revenues would not be shared – from water, waste, and energy efficiency fees.