Following the successful launch of the workshop series in Niš on May 28, two additional thematic workshops were held in Kragujevac and Novi Sad on June 3 and 4, respectively. Organized by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the EU-funded Chapter 27 Project “EU for Improving Chapter 27 Planning and Implementation in Serbia.” These events continued to build momentum toward aligning Serbia’s environmental legislation with EU standards outlined under Chapter 27.
Expanding regional engagement
The Kragujevac workshop gathered over 20 stakeholders, while the Novi Sad event saw an impressive turnout of nearly 40 participants, including representatives of local governments, environmental institutions and inspection bodies. This growing engagement highlights the increasing recognition of environmental noise as a critical public health and urban planning issue across Serbia.
Focus on regulations - the expert insight and practical discussions
As with the inaugural workshop in Niš, both events centred on the presentation and discussion of three key draft implementing rulebooks under Serbia’s 2021 Law on
- Environmental Noise Protection:
- Noise indicators and limit values
- Noise information system
Ch27 Project environmental expert, Professor Momir Praščević presented the main provisions of the three draft rulebooks and provided valuable context and guidance on best practices for implementing the “precautionary principle,” as well as the roles of data systems, urban planning, and local action in managing environmental noise.
The participants examined proposed legal and technical frameworks, which are fully aligned with EU Directive 2002/49/EC and the CNOSSOS-EU methodology. The discussions emphasized the importance of these tools in supporting effective noise management and planning at both national and local levels.
Key Issues Identified from the Field
The interactive format of the workshops encouraged participants to raise questions and share their own experiences, fostering a practical dialogue on how to overcome current challenges in institutional capacity, coordination, and citizen engagement.
Participants pointed out several challenges related to noise measurement—particularly the inconsistent practices between communal police and inspectors, as well as the issue of accreditation for conducting noise measurements, which was identified as one of the main obstacles in the field. There was also discussion on the need to involve Ministry of Health as well as health institutions in assessing the impact of noise.
It was noted that accreditation is a complex process and that a pilot project related to the role of communal police in noise measurement is currently underway in Belgrade. Participants were encouraged to use their valuable field experience and submit comments on the draft rulebooks within the next two weeks.
Next steps in Belgrade and beyond
With three of the four planned workshops now completed, the final event in Belgrade later this month will round out this important consultation process. Feedback from all workshops will be used to finalize the draft regulations and guide future technical support, including the development of IT systems for real-time noise monitoring. Led by a DAI Global consortium, the project will also deliver technical guidelines for enhanced IT solutions by October 2025 to support ongoing implementation of the EU Environmental Noise Directive.
These workshops reaffirm the Serbian government’s and the EU’s joint commitment to sustainable environmental governance. By engaging local stakeholders and building shared understanding, the initiative is paving the way for more resilient and health-conscious urban environments—advancing not only Serbia’s EU accession process but also the quality of life for its citizens.