National Environmental Investment Strategy - NEIS Ana Petrovska Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe

Starting point Legal approximation with the EU environmental acquis is ongoing Enforcement of legislation is not yet adequate Administrative capacity for planning and managing investments in the environment is weak at both national and local levels Regional development starts with the establishment of the new regional institutional structure (8 regions)

Water issues New legislation is to be completed Transfer of competences to the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning is ongoing Municipal utilities provide water supply and wastewater disposal services; tariff setting lies with municipal councils; operations are not always cost recovery and customer satisfaction's driven Reform of communal services is pending Private Public Partnerships are regarded possible / preferable for the wastewater disposal services only

Water supply Connection rate % in urban and % in rural municipalities Underinvestment in water supply systems in urban areas (34 in total) lead to deterioration of networks generating significant losses There are still rural settlements (in every single municipality) without water supply in place

Wastewater collection and disposal Connection rate in urban areas 70-90% and 60-80% in rural settlements Underinvestment in maintenance Low connection rate to WWTPs (6%) Lack of appropriate discharge standards

Wastewater collection and disposal

NEIS recommendations Water supply is regarded as highest priority Wastewater treatment must follow the construction of sewerage Priority lists developed Funds required estimated and set into overall financing plan Prioritization criteria not widely accepted

Priority Lists water supply

Priority Lists (wastewater)

Waste issues Legal framework and policy documents in place Enforcement is relatively weak Municipal utilities provide the service; tariffs approved by municipal councils; operations are not always cost recovery and customer satisfaction's driven Reform of communal services is pending Private Public Partnerships are regarded possible / preferable for the waste disposal services and long distance (regional) transport

Waste issues Served population rages from % in urban and 10-50% in rural municipalities 54 municipal dumpsites need to be closed and remediated 6-7 regional landfills need to be engineered and constructed Regional logistics need to be furnished Human resources need to be strengthened

NEIS Recommendations Benchmarking system to foster regionalization Harmonization of tariffs at regional level Institutionalization of regional systems Quality Management for contracting and possible PPP Maximized use of IPA