Serbia has not issued 166 essential integrated permits for major polluters due by December 31, 2024. The permits were required for companies operating in the energy, meat processing, construction, chemical and waste management sectors. The deadline has not been met, according to the available information.
This is the second missed deadline. The first deadline was at the end of 2020. At the current pace, experts predict it could take decades to issue the necessary permits for existing polluters, assuming no additional companies are added to the list.
Permitting progress under the draft Environmental Protection Strategy
Data from the draft Environmental Protection Strategy indicates that 54 integrated permits have been issued for 220 plants. Over the past three years, only eight permits were granted. The figures point to a slow rate of progress in issuing the permits.
Based on that rate, authorities could take up to 70 years to issue permits for all current plants. The law requires that new companies receive integrated permits within 240 days. However, only 34 permits have been issued since 2014.
Lack of enforcement and air pollution impacts
The ongoing failure is linked to weak implementation of the Law on Integrated Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution. The information provided also says this has resulted in insufficient attention to air pollution despite its effects. Serbia is described as one of Europe’s most polluted countries.
The source data states that air pollution causes premature deaths of approximately 15,000 people each year. It also describes the situation as a public health concern connected to permitting delays and enforcement gaps. The same framework is cited as affecting how pollution is addressed across sectors.
Companies named and penalties reported
The Regulatory Institute for Renewable Energy and the Environment (RERI) says permit failures reflect leniency toward large capital and disregard for legal requirements and citizen health. It identifies some high-earning companies that have not submitted requests for necessary permits. Named examples include Zijin and parts of Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS).
The industries referenced include petrochemicals and meat processing. Despite violations related to operating without required permits, the information provided says there have been no significant penalties. It cites an example where Zijin received a fine of 250,000 dinar, while other major polluters were not fined at all.
Government response and missed deadlines into 2025
The Serbian Ministry of Environmental Protection has not provided a clear explanation for why permit deadlines have not been met. It has also not outlined steps being taken to address the issue, according to the available information. Instead, changes to the law have been repeatedly delayed.
The information says these delays occurred despite evidence cited as showing inadequacy in protecting public health and the environment. As Serbia moves into 2025, the same source links continued lack of meaningful environmental reforms to ongoing risks for citizens’ health and well-being.