Who is guilty of failing the EU-funded project, where Kosovo lost 12m euros?

Below, you can read the complete explanation of the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning:

Explaining the “building facility for temporary preservation of dangerous waste in Kosovo”

On behalf of the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, Minister of the Ministry Fatmir Matoshi expresses concern about the failure to implement the project to build facilities for temporary preservation of dangerous waste in Kosovo's Harilaq as a result of the municipality's refusal without any arguments.

The following are clarifying the widespread public opinion of how this process has originated to the donor's withdrawal.

In the Republic of Kosovo, many wastes are generated, which, in their characteristics, are considered dangerous and, in most cases, are located and thrown into inappropriate places, so that these dangerous wastes and substances, in the situation in which they are now found, pose a permanent threat to land contamination, water and air, also pose risks to human health with long-term consequences.

The Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MMPH) under the Strategy of the Republic of Kosovo for the Management of Waste 2013-22 has planned to set up the “Construction of the facility for temporary storage of dangerous waste in Kosovo”. The IPA 2015 Programme has been supported for this project. The activities for creating preconditions for implementing the project in question are done together with the MZHE and under the support of the European Commission.

With the IPA 2015 programme, 12m euros were provided for the development of this project, which will serve to store dangerous waste from all municipalities in the Republic of Kosovo.

The development of the project was dependent on the location's definition, which was previously designated in the Harilaki (U.S.) cadastre area of Harilaki ão municipality, but the location designated and allowed by the Government of Kosovo since 2009, could not be used for the purpose of this project, as the area considered to be clean from explosive devices and could pose a risk to human life.

The MMPH secretary has appointed an Inter-initive Commission for Research, Election and Proposal of a location that would be more suitable for the high goal. The commission has appeared in the field and proposed that one of the possible locations for “building the facility for temporary preservation of dangerous waste”, can be exploited with IDs of the P-72514003-00022-106 cadastra unit. P-72514003-00022-17; P-72514003-00022-18; P-72514003-00022-19, which was owned by the Kosovo Forest Agency, in the Harilaq cadastral area in Kosovo's Fush municipality (in the vicinity of the previous location).

MMPH has applied to the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, which has issued the No. 11 - 49, 29th. 05.2018 for setting up location for , building the facility for temporary preservation of dangerous waste” in Kosovo.

The European Commission office in Kosovo for this project had begun activities. It was contracted by the company, the GEOKOS”, to do geotechnic research at the location.

While drilling was developed in the research, the Fusha Kosovo municipality Inspectorate has interrupted the company's research works.

MMPH has immediately contacted the Chairman of the Fushe Kosovo municipality, to which the purpose and importance of the project has been clarified, and has been told that after the geotechnic review the environmental impact assessment for the project will follow.

Capables from the MMPH were participants in the Fushe Kosovo Municipal Assembly, with the aim of clarifying the importance of the Project.

However, the Communist Assembly made a decision not to implement the Government's decision on the use of location. This decision has not yet been submitted to the Ministry of Management Local Power, as well, the MMPH does not.

Meanwhile, during the meetings, with the proposal of the Chairman of the Assembly, MMPH officials and representatives of the European Commission Office in Kosovo, they have visited several more places in the vicinity of the current location, yet it has been found that the selected and allowed location with the Government of Kosovo is one of the most suitable locations that would meet conditions overall.

In 21.11. 2018, MMPH has issued environmental authorisation for continuing jobs by the Geokos-Pristina company, in the geotechnic research of the location, and creating conditions for developing other activities for the project.

On 07.03.2019 at the leadership of MMPH Minister Mr. Matoshi and representatives from the European Commission's Office in Kosovo, as well as the mayor of Kosovo's Fusha municipality, have held a meeting where they have been discussed in terms of location designated for the construction of facilities for temporary preservation of dangerous waste in Kosovo.

Meeting at the Assembly of F. Kosovo was held with 10,04,2019, where the project was presented as well as possible effects on citizen health and the environment.

It is noteworthy that no stable argument for any negative impact this project can have.

In fact the current situation is disturbing, we have these dangerous wastes in different countries untreated and in countries that can pose direct danger to citizens.

It is also worth stressing that the site where the building of objects is envisioned is currently degraded and littered with refuse.

Despite the guarantees that MMPH and European commission officials have offered that this project has no place for concern, the municipality of Fushe-Kosovo has continued to reject this project.

In view of this situation and opposition from the mayor without any arguments, the European Commission has withdrawn funds and the project has failed.

The MMPH, in this case, praises the European Commission's support, labour and high dedication to helping us eliminate one of the problems that pose a threat to citizens' health and laments the Fusha-Kosovo Community's refusal to implement this project.

The MMPH as you know is supporting a lot of municipalities in the realisation of environmental projects, including the Fushe-Kosovo municipality, to such a refusal, to a project that does not pose a threat to citizens is unacceptable and negatively impacts our donors, especially with the donor in question.

MMPH is working on the contribution to proper national waste management and this commitment we will continue to continue and beyond this case, including dangerous waste for which we will certainly find a solution.