The third meeting of the Working Group for the Preparation of the Directive Specific Implementation Plan (DSIP) for the EU Emissions Trading System Directive (EU ETS) took place on 5 November 2024 in the main hall of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade. Organised by the Ministry of Environmental Protection in collaboration with the IED Serbia project, the meeting gathered an expanded working group, including representatives from operators in the mineral and metals industry sectors.
Participants were welcomed on behalf of the faculty by the newly appointed Dean, Ms Mirjana Kijevčanin, followed by an address from Ms Sandra Lazić of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, who reminded the working group members of the critical steps and strategies Serbia needs to implement to align with the requirements of the EU ETS Directive.
Ms Silviya Zdravkova Bakardzhieva, an international expert from the IED Serbia project, presented the legislative and administrative transposition plan for implementing the directive, outlining necessary amendments to national environmental legislation, as well as the resources, training, and additional capacities required for the successful implementation of the ETS system in Serbia. The financial aspects of the EU ETS Directive’s implementation were the focus of the next presentation, in which IED Serbia project expert Mr Đorđe Mitrović analysed the potential financial impacts of its application.
The key technical expert from the IED Serbia project, Mr Riccardo Quaggiato, introduced a roadmap detailing a phased timeline for ETS implementation, with particular emphasis on strategies for efficient and timely compliance with the requirements of the directive.
During the discussion, working group members and industry representatives exchanged views on the challenges and opportunities arising from the application of the EU ETS Directive, particularly in the context of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and its impact on the competitiveness of certain industrial sectors. Afterwards, Ms Sandra Dokić, State Secretary at the Ministry of Environmental Protection, highlighted the importance of the contribution of each member of the Working Group to the preparation of the DSIP for the ETSD. In fact, the implementation of this Directive is a necessary step on the way to the accession to EU policies in the field of climate change but at the same time it represents a heavy financial burden on Serbian industry, that the DSIP can lighten with appropriate equivalent measures. The meeting concluded with an agreement on the next steps in the implementation process of the EU ETS Directive.
