The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Macedonia, in cooperation with the National Council for European Integration at the Assembly of Republic of Macedonia organized a public debate entitled: “Policies for Improving the Environment in Republic of Macedonia”. This debate represents an initiation of a necessary wide debate, and concurrently will contribute to adoption of quality laws and adequate preparation for acceptance of the obligations arising out of the membership of Republic of Macedonia in the European Union.

The debate was held on November 26, 2009 (Thursday), at 10:00 hrs, in the Boris Trajkovski hall at the Assembly of Republic of Macedonia.

In general, public debates held within the National Council are related to the review of one law from one sphere. However, this debate was held on the basis of the current documents in the area of environment, as follows:

The debate served as an instigator for initiating a general debate at the Assembly of Republic of Macedonia, dedicated to the environmental protection, awareness raising and responsibility of the politicians to adopt green stamp laws, as well as stimulation of and active participation by the academic, experts’ and civic sector, as well as by each citizen individually. The debate also put emphasis on the alarming situation regarding the resolution of the problems in the sphere of environmental protection and the necessity of immediate resolution in order to enable better life for the future generations tomorrow.

Mrs Radmila Shekerinska, chairperson of the National Council for European Integration opened the debate. In the introductory address she emphasised: “.... the last Report, along with all previous reports of the European Commission confirm the well-known truth for many of you, but less known for many politicians, some media or part of the civic sector, that the environment is a topic that the European Union has come a long way. However, this also implies that Macedonia should make the best endeavours to reach the level of the European Union standards. I assume that that we shall not have typical controversial political issues on this topic. Macedonia cannot lose anything if the European Union requests that the criteria for environmental protection are high. That is beneficial for the Macedonian citizens, for their health, and also beneficial for the Macedonian economy, if we direct the economy in the right way....”

Following Mrs. Sekerinska address, Dr. Heinz Bongartz, resident representative of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Republic of Macedonia addressed the meeting, and especially supported the cooperation between the civic sector and the politicians in the creation of long-termed strategy and vision on how we want to live and what should our future look like.

Introductory presentations were made by Mr. Nedzat Jakupi, Minister of environment and physical planning and Mr. Ralf Bergmann, policy speaker on environmental issues from the Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, who is an expert in the sphere of environment and participated at the debate on invitation from the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Macedonia. The Minister Jakupi talked about the legislative framework in the sphere of environmental protection, and focused on the progress and obstacles in the implementation of the national strategies and environmental action plans, thus emphasizing the relation between the socio-economic development and the environmental protection and improvement. The establishment of equal partnership among the national and local authorities, as well as among the scientific, non-governmental and key economic sectors of the society, through implementation of international agreements shall protect the integrality of the environment and the development. In addition, the approximation to the European Union imposes mandatory requirements to Republic of Macedonia in the sphere of environment, not only from financial aspect but also from the aspect of enhancing the capacities and strengthening the institutions both at central and local level. 
Ralf Bergman talked about his ten-years political experience in the Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt, in the area of development, creation and implementation of local environmental policies. Being a mayor of small municipality, member of the county parliament and member of the federal state parliament in the past several years, and being fully familiar with the political and legislative solutions at all three levels, the guest shared his political and expert experience on the development of this part of East Germany following the unification (problems regarding the demographic development, inefficient and unprofessional administration, infrastructure investments in renewable sources of energy, environmental protection policies, necessity for environmental education, etc.), and made interesting parallel on the implementation of certain policies at different levels. With regard to the European Union directives, and being faced with the climatic changes, Mr. Bergmann emphasised the need for approximation of the policies of the Governments and the impact of these policies on the environmental protection. 

Besides the members and deputies of the National Council for European Integration, the Members of the Parliament of Republic of Macedonia, representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Education, Economic Chamber, representatives from the municipalities, representatives from international missions and organizations and representatives from the non-governmental sector were also invited and participated at the public debate.