A text dedicated to pollution, corruption, and our readiness for nuclear energy.
What Are We Breathing In?
On November 11th, 2024, at 8 PM, the most polluted neighbourhood in the world was Jagahpuri in New Delhi, where 537 micrograms of soot particles per cubic meter (PM10 AQI) were recorded. By comparison, at the same time in Zaječar, 479 micrograms of soot particles per cubic meter (PM2.5) were measured, placing this Serbian city among the most polluted in the world that evening. Looking at the broader picture, tonight in most Serbian cities, the air quality is either poor, very poor, or hazardous. The concentration of over 200 micrograms of soot particles per cubic meter, recorded in most Serbian cities tonight, poses a serious threat to human life and health
Looking at the world map, the region of Southeast Europe — specifically Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and North Macedonia — has been among the most polluted areas globally for years, alongside certain regions in Iran, Pakistan, India, and China.
European Projects – A Glimmer of Hope
The question arises: will this situation ever change?
One could say there is hope if we look at the European Union’s investments in Serbia. Currently, eight environmental protection projects are underway, along with sixteen energy sector projects. The EU has invested 500 million euros in the environmental sector and another billion euros in the energy sector, making it by far the largest investor in our country’s energy sector. Considering that this money has been granted to Serbia in the form of non-repayable funds or highly favorable loans, it’s clear that in tackling pollution, Serbia has a truly dedicated partner in the European Union.
Thanks to the EU assistance program, projects like the EU PPF program and EU for the Green Agenda in Serbia are being implemented.
- EU PPF represents technical assistance worth 21 million euros, funded from the EU’s pre-accession funds. The program focuses on preparing technical and tender documentation for infrastructure projects in the fields of environmental protection, energy, and Transport, as well as organizing over 70 training sessions for representatives of relevant local and state institutions to strengthen their capacities.
2. The EU for the Green Agenda in Serbia project contributes to efforts toward decarbonization, meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, reducing environmental pollution — air, soil, and water — as well as aligning with EU legal frameworks in all five areas covered by the Green Agenda.
Source of information: EU for You
What Holds Us Back – Corruption
However, nothing in Serbia seems to progress without a dramatic twist. The country remains highly ranked among the most corrupt nations. According to last year’s Corruption Perception Index, Serbia dropped from 101st to 104th place with a score of 36 points, putting it on par with Brazil and Ukraine, while Albania, Gambia, Kazakhstan, and Zambia have surpassed it. This rating is far below the European average and has been below even the Balkan average for several years.
Among the most pressing issues related to the fight against corruption mentioned in the report, the following stand out:
- Unprotected public resources: Prioritizing projects financed through debt without an approved plan, with no citizen input, and disregarding the opinions of relevant state authorities (Fiscal Council);
- Large public expenditures linked to elections;
- Uninvestigated cases pointing to harmful and illegal decisions (e.g., reports from the Anti-Corruption Council);
- Awarding the most valuable contracts through direct agreements or special laws;
- Waiving potential public revenues without adequate justification and transparency about beneficiaries;
- Decisions made outside the competence of relevant institutions, without explanations of the real reasons and impacts;
- Plans for constructing infrastructure projects;
- Decisions regarding lithium mining;
- Failure to respond to requests for access to information and disregard of the Commissioner’s decisions, with completely ineffective legal protection when information is sought from the Serbian Government;
- Incomplete explanations of legal acts;
- Lack of information.
In the article published in Lobbyists magazine on December 27th, 2023, titled “Corruption as a Form of Threat to Human Security: Political, Economic, and Health Dimensions,” the authors Dr. Marko Fijović and Dr. Ivica Đorđević explain that human security is a concept that places the individual at the center.
“Corruption is central to human security due to its impact on the functioning of the community and the quality of life of its members. The most obvious negative effects of corruption are in the areas of political and economic security. As the authors note, in most cases, it is difficult to discern where political corruption ends and economic corruption begins, and vice versa. This is primarily due to the existing symbiosis between the ruling elite and the holders of economic power, i.e., big capital. This relationship is manifested through the financing of political parties, the connections between political officials and private capital, and their shared profits. This type of corruption is most common in underdeveloped or developing countries and is often linked to the election process. It is characterized by the concentration of economic power in the hands of a few and strong ties between centers of economic and political power,” the article states.
At the end of the day, after all the lex specialis laws and secret contracts used to cover up suspicious dealings, people have lost trust in the institutions of the system and are trying to protect their vital interests through protests. The issue of lithium mining has divided Serbian society to a point of no return. For Serbia, the lithium mine is not simply a matter of mining investment to be debated in terms of its potential benefits or harms. Rather, it is an issue that poses a real danger of escalating the conflict between citizens and the state to a level where no one will be able to control it anymore.
In an atmosphere of distrust and corruption, the citizens of Serbia are breathing some of the most polluted air in the world.
The Law to Repeal the Ban on Building Nuclear Power Plants
Accustomed to waiting until the last minute, the proposal to repeal the law banning the construction of nuclear power plants has caught us off guard. The Minister of Energy announced that this law would be passed in the National Assembly by the end of the year. Once the law is enacted, the media will ceremoniously announce its adoption. Only then will Serbian citizens, environmental organizations, and concerned individuals start asking: Do we even need nuclear power plants?
Construction permits and concessions for building nuclear power plants will likely be issued in a manner similar to how permits for mini-hydropower plants were granted. A particularly pressing question remains: where will the nuclear waste be stored?
Overall, building nuclear power plants that could produce enough electricity to shut down thermal power plants, thereby reducing the consumption of fossil fuels in energy production, would be a positive step for Serbia.
However, given the current situation where even much simpler investments in Serbia are not adequately controlled — which recently led to a tragic disaster — the construction and maintenance of nuclear power plants without proper oversight could lead to a catastrophe of far-reaching proportions. We all remember the Chernobyl disaster
It is essential that this topic in Serbia be opened to the public as soon as possible, so that both the expert and general public can get involved, examine all aspects — both positive and negative — and, for a change, initiate a meaningful dialogue. Otherwise, whatever we do, we may regret it…
Lobbying in the Public Interest
The first nuclear power plant in Yugoslavia, “Krško,” was built back in 1974, making it 50 years old and still operational today. For making strategic decisions, such as the construction of nuclear power plants whose consequences will be felt for decades, broad social support is necessary.
The technique of dialogue, conducted in good faith and according to the law, provides an opportunity for all interested parties to express their views, expectations, and concerns. This is a constructive path toward achieving social unity on strategic development decisions. Lobbying in the public interest aligns individual, collective, and general interests. The methodological approach is based on balancing these interests. But is something like this possible?
John Nash explained the principle of the “Game Theory” in the natural sciences. Lobbying in the public interest is an innovative principle inspired by the work of this Nobel laureate, applied to social sciences.
The energy produced by the nuclear power plants we are considering today will supply consumers even in the year 2075. What will the world look like then?
This is why it is necessary, when making such a significant decision, to involve all relevant social factors in the dialogue and, using the most advanced scientific methods in negotiation, arrive at a final solution for which future generations will remember us fondly.
Oppenheimer
In the Lobbyists magazine, on March 21st, 2022, an article titled “These Are the Strongest Bonds in the World” by Ana Aleksić was published about Julius Robert Oppenheimer (1904–1967). We conclude this text with a quote from that article, which calls for collective responsibility:
“…I believe that those who claim that atomic weapons are a danger affecting everyone in this world are telling the truth, and that in this sense, it is a shared problem, just as it was a shared problem for the Allies to defeat the Nazis. I think that if we want to solve this shared problem, we must develop a comprehensive sense of shared responsibility…” — Oppenheimer.