Panel discussion on waste management and recycling solutions at the EUICC in Pristina

On 30 October, during a panel discussion on waste management and recycling solutions at the EUICC in Pristina, Libor Chlad, Deputy Head of Cooperation Section at the EU Office in Kosovo stated again that the environment remains a priority sector for the EU Office in Kosovo, and that all efforts are being put into action to raise awareness to achieve a cleaner environment.

“Environment is a transversal priority, and we look for it in everything we work on in Kosovo. We have invested a lot and we are continuing to invest. I am mentioning here a special site for temporary storage of dangerous waste, something very important to us”, Chlad said during the panel discussion.

Arineta Mula, alpinist and champion of the Environment Campaign, Luan Hasanaj from Let’s do it Kosova! and Edita Pozhegu from Open Data Kosovo joined the discussion on how to mobilise all institutions to collaborate in order to raise awareness of waste management and to transition from talking to actions in this regard.

Arineta Mula congratulated all the institutions that are working on the matter while pointing out the overall perception that people in Kosovo are hesitant to collect other people’s rubbish and dispose of it properly.

“I walk every morning with my friends in Gërmia Park and we see trash and plastic bags. We collect them and we throw them in the bin but the next day the history repeats itself. I believe the problem stands in the mentality. We need to expose trash and also work more on throwing trash where is needed and environmentally appropriate” said Arineta Mula, one of the four champions of the Environment Campaign currently being run by the EU Office in Kosovo and implemented by the EUICC.

Luan Hasanaj from Let’s do it Kosova! mentioned the task force comprised of 10 ministries in Kosovo that are trying to work on environmental protection, in collaboration with 35 other local task forces. According to him, cleaning actions are not definite solutions, but citizens need to take some responsibility over their property and public property, and institutions should work more on granting this right and instilling this culture in people.

During the event, the ‘Trego Gjelbër’ (Show Green) platform was launched as part of the EU funded project ‘Youth-Designed Digital Solutions to Promote Democratic Engagement and Support Evidence Based Policy-Making’. Edita Pozhegu from Open Data Kosovo walked the audience through the platform, which will include information about illegal dumping in all municipalities, so citizens, media, NGOs and other parties have a platform to turn to in order to find information and data available regarding this matter. (https://tregogjelber.org/eng)

The panel discussion was part of the Environment Campaign organised by the EU Office in Kosovo and implemented by the EUICC.