Strategic Moves - Regional Environmental Center for Central and ...

BOX 13: Planning hierarchy in Croatia
There has been some progress in the adoption of implementing regulations with respect
to waste products that can no longer be disposed of in landfills without pre-treatment
(such as medical waste). However, no progress has been made in relation to rules
or regulations governing the system for the recycling and recovery of priority waste
streams, such as packaging, motor oil and tyres (EC SEC [2009] 1338).
Croatia has made significant efforts to harmonise its national legislation with
the EU environmental acquis. Several acts have been passed in the air, water and
waste sectors, and strategic documents have been drawn up. The National Strategy
for Sustainable Development was adopted in 2009.
The Act on Waters and the Act on Water Management Financing, which will
constitute the primary legislation for water management, have not yet been enacted.
This is hampering the foreseen restructuring of the sector and is slowing
down the transposition process. The existing versions of both acts are from 2005
and are currently being amended. In addition to these two acts, water management
in Croatia is regulated by approximately 40 subordinate acts. Implementing legislation
in relation to hazardous substances in waters and wastewater has been enacted.
The Water Management Strategy was adopted in 2008. Despite this
progress, considerable efforts will be needed to further align with and implement
the acquis in the water, industrial pollution control and risk management, climate
change and horizontal sectors. Monitoring and reporting activities need to be improved
(EC SEC [2009] 1333).
Implementing legislation has been adopted on waste from extractive industries
and the management of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and polychlorinated terphenyls
(PCT). Amending legislation on the classification of waste and on the supervision
of transboundary movements of waste has also been adopted (EC SEC
[2009] 1333). The Waste Management Law was adopted in 2005 (amended in
2006) and the complementary National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS)
in 2005. The National Waste Management Plan (NWMP) for the period 2007 to
2015 was adopted in 2007. Sustained efforts are needed towards the remediation
of existing landfills and hotspots and the further establishment of systems for the
collection and management of different categories of waste (EC SEC [2009] 1333).
Kosovo (as defined under UNSCR 1244) is at an early stage in terms of alignment
with European environmental standards. However, progress has been
achieved in both the horizontal and vertical legislative framework in the water,
waste and air sectors. The new draft Law on Environmental Protection was
C H A P T E R 5
N AT I O N A L S T R AT E G I C A N D I N S T I T U T I O N A L F R A M E W O R K
• Waste Management Strategy of the Republic of Croatia (Official Gazette, No. 130/05) — 2005.
• Waste Management Plan of the Republic of Croatia for the period 2007 to 2015 (Official Gazette, No. 85/07)
— June 2007.
• According to the Waste Management Plan and obligations arising from the Waste Law (Official Gazette,
No. 178/04, 111/06, 60/08), 21 counties prepared draft regional waste management plans in 2008.
S T R AT E G I C M O V E S 103