Law No. 03/L-025 on Environmental Protection

20 March 2025

Author:

 Reko
girl-holding-planet-reko-rilindja-gjelber

​Law No. 03/L-025 on Environmental Protection, adopted by the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo and published in the Official Gazette on 6 April 2009, aims to harmonize economic development and social well-being with the fundamental principles of environmental protection, promoting the creation of a healthy environment for the people of Kosovo and approximation with the environmental standards of the European Union. ​

The main objectives of the law include:

  • The rational use of natural resources and the limitation of polluting emissions, the prevention of damage, the rehabilitation and improvement of the damaged environment.​
  • The improvement of environmental conditions related to the quality of life and the protection of human health.​
  • The conservation and maintenance of natural resources, renewable and non-renewable, as well as their sustainable management.
  • Coordination of state activities to meet environmental protection requirements.
  • Regional and international cooperation in the field of environment.
  • Promotion and participation of the public in environmental protection activities.

The fundamental principles of the law include:

  • Principle of sustainable development: Harmonization of economic development with environmental protection to ensure long-term and sustainable development.
  • Principle of integration: Integration of environmental protection requirements into all sectoral and cross-sectoral policies.
  • Principle of prevention and precautionary measures: Prevention of pollution and damage to the environment through precautionary measures and early action.
  • The polluter pays principle: The determination that the polluter covers the costs of assessing and eliminating the damage caused to the environment.

Obligations of legal and natural persons:

  • Legal and natural persons are obliged to ensure environmental protection during all phases of their activities through:
  • Implementation of environmental protection provisions.
  • Rational use of natural resources and energy.
  • Application of clean technologies.
  • Use of methods for the analysis of the life cycle of products.
  • Taking other measures in accordance with the law.
  • Liability for environmental pollution:
  • The polluter who causes environmental pollution is liable for the damage caused and bears the costs of assessing and eliminating the damage.

Environmental Protection Fund:

In order to provide financial means for stimulating the protection and improvement of the environment in Kosovo, the Environmental Protection Fund is established, the powers, administration, sources of financing and the manner of using the means of which are regulated by a special law.

Inspection and supervision:

Environmental protection inspectors supervise the implementation of quality standards for the components of the environment, technical standards for environmental protection, monitoring of the state of the environment, measurement of emissions and immissions, implementation of environmental protection measures determined by the relevant programs, and the conditions set out in consents, authorizations and permits issued pursuant to the law.

For more details, you can consult the full text of the law in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Kosovo. ​[Official Gazette]

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