The Energy Community Secretariat has initiated a preliminary dispute settlement procedure against Kosovo* for the lack of transposition and implementation of legislation related to the emissions of large combustion plants.

According to the Secretariat’s press release, the environmental legislation of Kosovo* aiming to curb emissions into the air fails to comply with the obligations under the Energy Community Treaty by not fully transposing the limit values of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and dust for existing plants, as stipulated in the Large Combustion Plants Directive (LCPD).

Furthermore, the Secretariat also considers that the rules for new plants have not been brought in line with the requirements of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED).

The obligations under the Large Combustion Plants and Industrial Emissions Directives have entered into force on January 1, 2018, with regard to existing and new plants, respectively.

Contracting Parties were to align their legislation with the provisions of these Directives by that deadline, the Secretariat said in a statement, adding that rules on the limitation of emissions into the air from large combustion plants are key to limit air pollution, as well as that it is expected their implementation will result in major health and environmental benefits in the Contracting Parties of the Energy Community.