Sweden Ambassador: We Want to See Kosovo in the EU

Periskopi

24 May 2024, 13:21(2 years ago)

Kosovo wants to see it in the European Union, so it also invests in environmental conservation. So said Sweden's ambassador to Kosovo, Jonas Westerlund, in the European Park Day note. This day was marked at the Sharr Mountains National Park in Prevalla, where Westerlund said that it was in this park last year and [...]

So said Sweden's ambassador to Kosovo, Jonas Westerlund, in the European Park Day note.

This day was marked at the Sharr Mountain National Park in Prevalla, where Westerllund said that it was in this park last year that the path of friendship was inaugurated.

“We are to celebrate European Park Day. We do this for three reasons. First because it is very evident that we are here to preserve the environment in Kosovo. According to reports a child born in 2020 will experience 2.6 times more drought, 6.8 times more hot waves in his life compared to a child born in the 1960s. So this is a huge difference only within 60 years, that's why we do this to preserve biodiversity and the environment. The second reason is that we want to see Kosovo in the European Union, for this reason we finance these co-operation. And this will pave the way for the contribution to have Kosovo as EU members in the future. The third one has access to national parks, this is a key priority for everyone to have access to nature”, the Swedish ambassador said.

While MMPHI Deputy Prime Minister Jeton Raka said Kosovo is proud to have two extraordinary parks, such as that of Sharri and the Nemuna Bees.

“Within the framework of our commitments for the preservation and sustainable engagement of our national parks last year, the Kosovo Assembly has approved space plan for the Nemuna Bjeshks National Park. And this year as minister, we have also approved the management plan for the Nemuna National Park. This year we are engaged in reviewing the space plan for the Sharr Mountains National Park and the management plan for this park. Under environmental protection, we have made decisions on creating green task force as a special and temporary structure in improving river protection, reducing waste, improving park management and taking action against environmental degradation from illegal activities. We will also engage in increased co-operation in management of cross-border parks Albania, Northern Macedonia and Montenegro”, he has said.

On the other hand, Africa Berisha, deputy head of the Environmental Protection Agency, stressed that over the past three years, there has been an added dynamite in functioning activities to improve management of national parks.

This included the Kosovo government's commitment, but donor engagement, including all park management. The deputy minister cited the task force, but in the process of implementation, there are two important activities involving the Certificate of protected zone supervisors and implementation of the mandated fines to be managed by conservation supervisors. Despite progress, we also have challenges, such as illegal construction, waste, illegal hunting and legal uncertainty in some respects”, he has said.

Activities for waste laundering were also organised during the Lepenc River and Prizren's Lumbardi rivers, as well as on the road to Kosovo friendship. / EO