Environment, can negotiations be closed in 2027? Nika: Difficult chapter, it takes a long time to reach EU standards
"Chapter 27 is one of the most challenging, the most costly and one of the chapters that will take time, energy and expertise to close ." Environmental expert Olsi Nika comments on TV SCAN on the opening of negotiations for Chapter 4 "Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity", which includes the environment. He emphasizes that achieving environmental standards within 2-3 years is very difficult, as the actions that need to be taken are cross-sectoral.
"The environment is difficult because it is a cross-sectoral field. So, if we want to achieve air quality standards, for example, of the European Union, it will have to affect other sectors as well. For example, in urban areas such as Tirana, a total transformation of urban transport will be needed. In order to achieve the standards, as required by the EU, at least the environmental chapter takes time, it takes much more time. It is different from other issues," says Nika.
According to him, these standards can be achieved even after membership, referring to the mechanisms currently used towards integration.
"The membership process also has other modalities, where you become a member but are left with tasks for the next 10 years and then this can be achieved. Always if the will is right and always if the teams are committed to the right will to work in the same direction, to converge on one point ," says the expert.
Meanwhile, referring to the 6th Intergovernmental Conference and the report prepared for group chapter 4 and specifically for chapter 27, there are several points where action is needed.
"The first point is the part of the law "On Protected Areas", where the European Union apparently strongly insists that this law should be revised or even withdrawn. The second, which is also related to protected areas the most, is the law "On Strategic Investments" which has gone through several stages of postponement and the European Union strongly demands that this law be suspended permanently because it is a law that actually directly affects protected areas, where statistics say that more than 70% of strategic investments are planned to be developed in protected areas", - says Nika.
Action is also required in terms of implementing the legal framework for Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment, by improving the infrastructure and human capacities of inspectorates and agencies. The rigorous implementation of the Aarhus Convention, especially the third pillar, which relates to public access to environmental decision-making, is also required. Group Chapter 4 includes key areas such as green transition, environmental protection, clean energy, sustainable transport interconnection, which are at the heart of the European Green Deal and the EU's strategic priorities.
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