Serbian Environment Minister Sara Pavkov Unveils 2033 Environmental Strategy

Serbian Environment Minister Sara Pavkov announced that the government has approved a new Environment Protection Strategy covering the period up to 2033. The document, the 11th strategic plan in five years, outlines an action programme built on five pillars and requires several billion dinars for implementation, with financial support pledged by the EU and other international partners.

Pavkov said the strategy includes emergency measures for low water levels in the Danube, with the regional crisis staff designating flood risks in Vrbasa, Kula and Sombor. New legislation will obligate managers of protected and fishing zones to provide 24‑hour updates, and local authorities will receive equipment and the ability to apply for additional funds for sewage, water‑transfer stations and waste‑water collectors. This year more than 12 000 cans and 3 000 containers were allocated for local use.

She also highlighted that sulfur‑dioxide emissions at the Bor mining complex will be reduced by 100 % starting January 2026, marking the first historic drop in the plant’s output. Pavkov stressed that mining remains a key sector for Serbia’s GDP while insisting that environmental safeguards can coexist with industrial activity.