Levica party opposes North Macedonia environmental law amendments

The political party Levica has submitted amendments to the proposed Law on Environment in North Macedonia to prevent the removal of legal frameworks for identifying and remediating ‘ecological hotspots.’ The party argues that the proposed changes would dismantle mechanisms for managing contaminated areas left by former industrial capacities and mines.

MP Saško Jančev highlighted several critical environmental risks, specifically citing Lojane and Vaksince, where hundreds of thousands of tons of arsenic and antimony tailings, along with 10,000 tons of pure arsenic concentrate, are exposed to the wind. He also warned of hexavalent chromium near the former Jugohrom industrial complex, noting its potential to contaminate groundwater near the Rašče spring, which supplies water to approximately half a million residents in Skopje.

Levica’s amendments also seek to maintain a ban on reconstructing G1-type installations within five kilometers of residential areas and protected natural sites, while ensuring citizen participation and access to justice during the preparation of environmental studies.