The European Commission presented on Monday its annual report on air pollution in Europe, which also includes data on the six Western Balkan countries, MIA reports from Brussels.
The situation in the region, the report points out, is still unsatisfactory.
According to European Environment Agency’s (EEA) latest official data, the health of people in North Macedonia and the region remains in serious danger. The rate of premature deaths is still up, due to high concentration of PM2.5 air particles, adds the report.
Death rate is higher in Germany, Italy, Poland and France, countries that have some of the largest populations, but the impact of air pollution is largest in the Balkans.
“In relative terms, when considering years of life lost per 100,000 inhabitants, the largest impacts are observed in central and eastern European countries where the highest concentrations of PM2.5 are also observed, namely Kosovo, Serbia, Albania, Bulgaria and North Macedonia,” the report stresses.
EU Commissioner for Environment Virginijus Sinkevičius said that the European Commission is at the disposal of countries in the region that require assistance, via the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.
“The primary source of pollution is domestic heating. We’re yet to see the dramatic improvement necessary to preserve public health. The Commission is ready to cooperate with the region, we’ve prepared a Green Agenda for the Western Balkans and are optimistic that visible results can be achieved,” Sinkevičius told MIA.
EEA Executive Director Hans Bruyninckx discussed in greater detail the root of the problem in the region.
“We’re working with the six Western Balkan countries under the pre-accession instrument for strengthening monitoring in order to collect correct data and aid policy creation,” Bruyninckx said.
According to him, one of the major issues is continual use of solid fuels – coal in industry and energy sectors and wood for domestic heating, as well as the fact that people in the region drive older vehicles that cause greater air pollution.
“The general position is that the region is yet to achieve the necessary level of technological advancement to improve,” Bruyninckx concluded.
