Kosovo continues to face numerous challenges in the field of environment and climate change. Such a thing has been confirmed again by the European Commission Report on Kosovo published last month. In this report, it is emphasized that Kosovo should increase its political commitment to address environmental degradation and climate change challenges.

Among the horizontal issues in the field of environment, it is highlighted that the legislation on environmental inspections has not been approved and that the inspectorate lacks the capacity for implementation.

In addressing environmental issues, of course, the Ministry of Environment has a leading role, while according to the legislation, municipalities also have responsibility for the administration of environmental protection, by inspecting the implementation of laws related to environmental protection and sustainable development within the territories. The organization of the Inspectorate at the local level foresees the municipal inspectorate of environmental protection, and the municipal inspectorate of construction, where the assignment of the number of inspectors according to the relevant fields of supervision at the local level is regulated by the local government body.

Based on the questions addressed by EC Ma Ndryshe regarding the municipal inspections in the 7 municipalities of Kosovo, which are known as regional centers (Prishtina, Prizren, Pejë, Ferizaj, Gjilan, Gjakovë and South Mitrovica), the results provide an overview of the current situation for the low level of environmental inspections, as well as the lack of accountability and level of transparency towards citizens and civil society in general. For the time period January - June 2021, 252 mandatory fines have been imposed in the 7 largest municipalities of Kosovo, as well as 35 requests have been addressed to the relevant courts by the municipal environmental inspectors. On the other hand, the number of environmental inspectors remains quite low compared to the large number of environmental problems that are affecting the degradation of the environment.

For these reasons, taking into account the remarks addressed by the EU authorities, the state bodies of Kosovo, including the municipalities, should intensify efforts towards the implementation of legal provisions against environmental degradation and crimes in this area, in order to increase efficiency. in environmental protection.

Therefore, EC Ma Ndryshe recommends the respective municipalities to take concrete actions to improve the measures, namely the increase of inspection supervision for the protection of the environment, in order to prevent further degradation that manifests itself with numerous negative consequences.