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In the paper the author considers the environmental characteristics of property tax. The aim of the paper is to present how this tax can be used in order to contribute to the protection of environment. Having in mind the fact that the ecological role of property tax in Serbia is quite modest, the author will try to answer whether there is room for further greening of the property tax by introducing new tax reliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/purpose: Decades of dealing with unexploded ordnance (UXO) in some areas of the Republic of Serbia have confirmed that it presents a substantial hazard to the security of people, property, and the environment. Even though the terrain has been cleaned, various threats from difficult-tofind UXO components remain serious. Inadequate systemic solutions for UXO management can have significant harmful consequences. Methods: Based on the spatial distribution analysis and different UXO types and quantities, this article studies the effects of dangerous components of unexploded ordnance on human lives and the environment. Two different geospatial analyses were performed including the guidelines for risk management through risk elimination based on multiple criteria, the GIS, and the Remote Sensing analysis. Results: Two different geospatial analyses resulted in the areas at high risk of remaining UXO. Conclusion: The article significantly contributes to creating an environmental risk management strategy for UXO-contaminated regions. It presents an effective technique for addressing risk assessment challenges in such sites. The analysis considers both risk analysis and environmental protection options. Using the multi-criteria analysis and the GIS, it estimates the exposure of built structures, people, soil types, and plant species to UXO dangers in key locations. This paper serves as a guideline for environmental risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on formal and practical problems in the field of environmental protection, which occur as a consequence of omissions of the legislative and executive authorities in Serbia. The text analyzes the positive legislation and compliance of domestic legal regulations with international declarations and conventions ratified by our country (from the Stockholm Declaration and the Council of Europe Convention on Civil Liability for Damage Caused by Dangerous Activities to the Environment to the Rio Declaration), as well as with European Directives (EU Directive on Industrial Emissions) and Regulations (Regulation No. 525/2013 on monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and reporting on other information relevant to climate change). The candidacy for equal membership in the European family of nations obliges the Serbian Parliament and the Government to make additional efforts in the direction of harmonizing our law with the European one. The paper takes a de lege ferenda approach, so the author explains the need to amend a number of laws, such as the Law on Environmental Impact Assessment, the Law on Strategic Environmental Assessment, the Law on Fees for the Use of Public Goods and the Law on Budget system, as well as the enactment of the Law on Climate Change and the Serbian Civil Code as soon as possible (in which dilemmas that hinder the subjects of law in using the environmental lawsuit as an instrument of environmental protection should be resolved). An unacceptable deviation from one of the fundamental principles established by the Rio Declaration was pointed out, which brings with it a number of structural problems and the inability of both the Green Fund institutions and a number of organizations that focus on ecology. The consequences of the discrepancy between the intentions proclaimed by the Constitution of Serbia and the National Strategy of Serbia for the accession of Serbia and Montenegro to the European Union from 2005 on the one hand and the absence of adequate legislative and executive activities in environmental protection, on the other hand, are obvious in the reports of the European Commission and the European Environment Office, as well as in the health risk and increased mortality of a large number of citizens of Serbia and other European countries, due to harmful emissions that cause pollution of air, water and soil in our country. In addition to the proposals for changes in the formal framework in the field of environmental protection, the paper points out the need to use those mechanisms of civil protection, such as environmental lawsuits (established by the Law on Obligations 1978), which is, by its nature, actio popularis and in that sense accessible to the widest range of subjects. The defense of the standards established by the Kyoto Protocol and the Basel Convention would, through the extensive use of this procedural instrument, be placed not only in the hands of representatives of the legislature and the executive, but also, the judiciary (conditionally, of course, because courts can decide only initiate a civil action, but not on its own initiative). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the light of current global tendencies and a concern for the issue of environmental protection, this paper aims to provide an analysis of most important issues in this field, within the EU Law. Elements of the right to a healthy environment are systematically regulated in the communitarian law. First, there is a long-standing normative activity of these issues, which in the last two years resulted in the adoption of new strategic documents. Second, jurisprudence of the ECJ has also followed development of the legislation, as well as circumstances in which those documents have been applied. Therefore, special attention is drawn to the newly-adopted general acts, created with long-term aims, and based on normative and factual experience over past decades. Its purpose is to achieve sustainable development goals in a multidimensional manner. Furthermore, an analysis of selected judgments of the ECJ shows the efficiency in application of relevant regulations and directives. Moreover, the interpretation of the EU law is of special importance, where the ECJ has a significant role. With regard to the universal character of this topic, the paper provides a short overview of the relevant legal framework in the USA, Norway and Serbia. Negotiations on the joining the EU imply the harmonization of domestic law with the standards of the communitarian law. By observing the Serbian environmental legal framework, it could be said that there is determination and concrete measures in the process of harmonization. On the basis of previously mentioned issues, authors structured the paper and aspects of the rese arch contained therein, followed by the conclusions provided in the final chapter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Republic of Serbia, education on environmental issues in elementary school is very scarce. Environmental protection theme is part of subject's knowledge of nature and/or society, i.e., biology, chemistry, geography, and physics. Also, awareness on the necessity of environment protection among adults should be improved. Thus, the authors of this paper proposed an educational programs on climate change for adolescents that will indirectly transfer their knowledge on their parents or guardians. The educational program will be provided among elementary school children (1-8 grade). The program will cover climate change issues with the focal point on renewable energy resources. The effect of education will be analyzed throughout the survey before and after the program. The effect will be measured both in children and parents. The result should highlight the improvement in knowledge on climate change and raising awareness on this significant issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subject of the author's analysis is the issue of legal protection of pet animals. Through analysis of applicable provisions contained in the Act on Animal Welfare of Serbia, on one hand, and the fundamental principles and provisions set out in the European Convention for the Protection of Pet animals, on the other hand, this paper attempts to point out the degree of legal protection that pet animals are awarded under domestic legal regulations, as well as to answer the question of compatibility of the national legislation with the international standards set out in the mentioned European Convention regarding the above mentioned question. In addition, since the legal protection of pet animals is also regulated by relevant by-laws in our law, the analysis of certain aspects of protection provided to pet animals, specifically the Decision of the city of Novi Sad on keeping of domesticated animals, the paper attempts to draw attention to compliance of the solutions adopted in this legal act, with the fundamental principles of protection, provided to pets by laws or the Act on Animal Welfare of Serbia. Finally, in order to provide a more comprehensive insight in terms of achievement of the legal protection of pets in Serbian law, the paper analyzes the types of unlawful conduct of the owner or the holder of the animals, as well as their respective sanctioning prescribed in specific laws or bylaws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers taxes related to passenger cars and possibilities of their use in order to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, this paper considers ecological potential of non-recurrent taxes in connection with the purchase and registration of passenger cars, periodically charged taxes on the use of passenger car and excises in the European union. At the end, the author presents legislation related to motor vehicles taxes in Serbia and analyzes their ecological functions, and points out the shortcomings of the existing legislative solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament announced the objectives of the "sustainable policy in the water area" in 1996. Following those objectives and recommendations, control of surface water quality from the aspect of sustainable development of the region has been actively executed in Serbia. Water quality monitoring is primarily applied on large water basins, with a focus on small ones as well, especially due to the fact that small basins have a significant role in environmental protection and water supply. This paper presents the significance of regular water control of the River Ralja in Central Serbia. Monitoring was executed in different seasons, and this paper presents results for the period 2011-2012. The aim of this paper is to present the situation of the water basin and point to the significance of surface courses for water supply of the population. Another objective is to point to issues emerging in the phase of using and disposing of used waters, as well as the option of using the River Ralja water for irrigating arable land, in the aim of obtaining healthy and high-quality agricultural produce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of environmental awareness in this paper was conducted through its basic dimensions: attitudes, behavior and willingness of the respondents to participate in solving environmental problems. The paper focuses on understandings, attitudes and motivations that influence the decision of farmers regarding key issues related to the environment and agricultural production. In the empirical section, this paper assesses whether and how environmental practices follow environmental attitudes of the respondents. One of the hypothesis is that formal education, as an important determinant, has a significant impact on the attitudes regarding environmental protection and the application of positive environmental practices. What was also examined was the extent of and the manner in which information in the field of agriculture and environmental protection, influences the attitudes, practices and involvement of farmers in preserving the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global discussion on climate change and strengthening environmental protection has been launched, especially in the last three decades. As climate change is a result of greenhouse gas emissions, different mechanisms were introduced in order to reduce this impact, surely the most significant was set by the Kyoto Protocol. The Republic of Serbia considers a proper policy on environmental protection as one of its priorities. As the switch from traditional to renewable energy sources carries valuable improvements in environmental protection and economic efficacy, the Government encourages the use of renewable energy sources for the production of energy. This paper provides analysis of the potential of renewable energy sources in Serbia, carbon potential and their possible role in mitigation of climate changes. Results presented in the paper can be useful for the improvement of the strategic planning on the national level with the final aim to contribute to the increase in importance of use of renewable energy sources in that planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serbia, as a relatively small country, which dos not have a lot number of comparative advantages in the process of globalization can only be, in addition to human resources, rely on their natural resources. Favorable climate, large areas of arable land and forests, healthy environment conducive to the development of organic farming, which may be a response to the process of European integration and the necessity of trade across national borders. Methods of organic agriculture that are already use in many countries in the world, has shown excellent results in the conservation of soil biodiversity, soil and water purification from pesticides and fertilizers. Biological control of pests, the use of natural substances in disease control, fertilizer use, such as manure and compost to increase soil fertility measures that are in accordance with the requirements of a healthy environment, and measures to allow maintenance of the ecological balance in nature. This paper seeks to address the conditions that are important for organic production and considering the natural resources and new agricultural techniques to reduce pollution by analyzing the controlled production conditions and identify measures for sustainable development of high quality food, protection of ecosystems, as well as maintaining and increasing soil fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) have greatly expanded in both distribution and abundance during the last few decades, and are the most abundant cervids in Europe today. The aim of this paper is to determine the factors that have the most considerable impact on roe deer numbers in the Vojvodina region (North Serbia). Environmental (area in ha, total area of forest and total area of meadows and pastures in hunting ground) and anthropogenic (number of registered hunters, number of hunting sections, number of gamekeepers and roads in km on 1,000 ha) factors had been shown to influence the number of roe deer in Vojvodina region. A multiple regression analysis was carried out as the main statistical approach. The mapping of certain parameters was done using ArcGIS 9.2 software in order to establish the relation between the roe deer population and the different environmental and anthropogenic conditions. The results signify that the roe deer number dependency in the Vojvodina region is a very complex and multi-factorial phenomenon, strongly influenced by human induced modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environment today is an increasingly important area of interest, and regulation in the world, and also in Republic of Serbia. Looking at the Acquis (Acquis Communituire) states that must be adopted and put into national legislation, all activities, environmental protection is one of the most extensive, most complex and demanding investment. The environmental significance of a growing number and variety of preventive measures and actions of different entities, which is natural because, as a rule, the damage to the environment or its individual segments in most cases, irreparable or only partially recoverable, which raises serious the possibility of sustainable development. In this paper, attention is paid to principles of law of environment: principles of prevention, precaution, environmental expertise and polluter pays principle as well as damages. Special attention is paid to the principle of prevention as one of the basic principles of environmental law and its practical implications in assessing environmental impacts of projects, plans and platforms in the Republic of Serbia and responsibility for not taking the necessary preventive measures and the detrimental consequences in the environment at national level, and also at EU level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper contains a summary of results obtained when researching demand for transporting dangerous goods of class 3 (oil and oil derivates) in the area of the city of Belgrade in 2007. Considering all transport modes used for carrying oil and oil derivates (road, rail and water transport), we present the total quantities of transported goods on a percentage basis. In light of road transport, the paper presents the features of demand for transport in terms of time and space that are a basis for the management of transporting dangerous goods and input to defining transportation routes to dangerous goods. Among the features of demand for transport in terms of time, the paper presents the quantities of goods transported within different months of the year, different week days and different periods of the day. The features of demand for transport in terms of space presented in the paper are goods flow features depending on their origin and the destination of movement in relation to the defined serviced area and the load of traffic network with goods flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the spatial position of wind turbines is the initial and most important phase in the development of a wind farm project. In this sensitive phase, all potential problems that may arise in the later stages of project development should be prevented by means of spatial and urban planning instruments. This makes it possible to achieve maximum use of the potential of wind in a particular space and, thus, fulfil the technical and economic requirements of the project while respecting the goals of environmental protection in that same area, through preventive protection. Therefore, it is essential, even at the earliest planning and development stage of a wind farm project, for the requirements that are important for optimal spatial solutions to be balanced. In this process, strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is a support to the planning process and an invaluable instrument for finding optimal spatial solutions for the possible key spatial impacts of wind power with regard to noise, shadow flicker, ornithofauna and chiropterofauna. The weakness of SEA can be seen in its predominant application of expert qualitative methods that bring with them subjectivity, since they depend on expert knowledge and skills. This paper presents the aspect of noise impact assessment and its inclusion in the SEA for the Maestrale Ring wind farm in Serbia. The results of the research indicate how it is possible to achieve the principle of objectivity in the process of multicriteria expert evaluation by including the results of a partial impact assessment of the noise from wind farms, using results obtained from software modeling of the spatial dispersion of wind turbine noise in the SoundPlan 8.1 software package in the SEA process. These quantitative results predicting the noise level were used in a semi-quantitative method of multicriteria evaluation in the SEA through the definition of criteria to determine the ranking of impacts, which is elaborated in the paper. The results also show the significant of the contribution of applying a methodological approach based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods in SEA. These methods positively affect the application of the principle of preventive protection through the optimal selection of the number and position of wind turbines on one hand and the objectivity of drawing conclusions based on which strategic decisions are made in the final phase of the SEA process, on the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fulfilling the waste management targets set-up in the Directives, will be challenging task for Serbia. This paper identified the drivers which will support the development of waste management system which is in accordance with the Directives goals. Foremost priority in development of waste management system will be environmental protection and building the waste management infrastructure. Strengthen the law enforcement, capacity building, increase the efficiency of current waste management system will important task in the support the development of waste management system. Financial sustainability of the system will be the most challenging task, from building the infrastructure to establishing the wellfunctioning system adjusted to local conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental protection policy is being carried out, among other things, through the suitable sectors plans and programs. The aim of this paper is to analyze our experience in application of the Law on Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment. We have paid special attention to its drawbacks, observed in preparation of strategic environmental impact assessment. The key for successful tackling of this task assumes common work of all entities, private, legal and professional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the author provides analysis of the provisions of the European Directive on Environmental Information from 2003 presently in force, and provisions for their implementation in the legislation of the Republic of Serbia, in particular the current Environmental Protection Law from 2009. Attention has been paid to the relevant rules of the Aarhus Convention on Environmental Information ratified into law of the Republic of Serbia in 2009. The author finds that majority of provisions of the European Directive on Environmental Information have been implemented into the legislation of the Republic of Serbia, however the author notes that instead of restrictive interpretation of the refusal to provide access to information on the state of the environment, as envisaged by the European Directive, the law of the Republic of Serbia provides for a wide range of reasons for refusing access to information regarding the environment. Further, the article offers analysis of procedures for providing legal protection, especially before the court (state courts or arbitral tribunals) in cases of wrongful refusal to provide access to requested information by the competent state organ, both at national and regional level. The author also notes that, contrary to the European Directive which does not require a need to demonstrate legal interest in order to obtain information on the state of the environment, the law of the Republic of Serbia imposes such requirement. Truth be told, the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information in Environmental Matters that has been ratified by the Republic of Serbia, requires applicants to prove or to state the existence of the legal interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is duty of the seller to pack the goods in a manner which assures their safe arrival and enables their handling in transit and at the place of destination. The problem of packing is relevant in two main respects. First of all the buyer is in certain circumstances entitled to refuse acceptance of the goods if they are not properly packed. Second, the package is relevant to calculation of price and freight based on weight. In the case of export trade, the package should conform to the legislation in the country of destination. The impact of package on environment is regulated by environment protection regulation of Republic if Serbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the last century the process of harmonization and unification of the law on food safety for the protection of consumers in the European Union (EU) is ongoing. According to these rules, participants in the production and distribution of food have to respect the rules in all phases of production: 'From Farm to Fork'. Honoring of the rules is based on self-control and the responsibility of producers and distributors, and is subject to public control with appropriate sanctions by competent authorities of a Member State as well as the EU. In the Republic of Serbia, after singing the Stabilization and Association Agreement, the statutory law has been approximated with the laws of the EU. That however, is not sufficient. It is necessary to develop the self-control of producers as well as to organize an efficient public control, not only because this is a necessary condition for export of food products to the single market of the EU, or for the membership in the EU, but also for ensuring safe food in the internal market of Serbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Republic of Serbia has built an extensive and comprehensive system of inspection control in the field of environmental protection. Through the specialization on various environmental issues in different areas of social life it is provided the comprahensiveness of inspection control, and through the establishing a wide network of environmental inspection services, it is created a fundamental prerequisite for the good functioning of the inspection in the field of environmental protection. The current organization of inspection services, however, represents only the initial legal basis, which should be further improved, for the possibility of effective exercise of the inspection in this area of ??social life. First of all, it should be made a detailed codification of legal rules on inspection control, by adoption a general law on inspection control, and then pass a special law on inspection control in the field of environmental protection, by which it would be introduced all standards set by Recommendation of the European Parliament and the Council of 4 April 2001 providing for minimum criteria for environmental inspections in the Member States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Serbian Law and in the most of jurisdictions, there are limits on excercising the right of property. A real estate owner must refrain from activities by which the use of other real estate is being impoded through the emission of exessive gasses, vapors, smoke, heat, noise, the draining of waste water, etc. Neighboring real estate ownwrs must endure such harmful effects if they do not exceed the limit of usual endurance, taking into account the nature and purpose of such real estate, as well as local conditions. The property owner who is affected by emissions exceeding the set limit, has the right to request a stop of emissions which exceeded the allowed volume of emissions. If the emisions originate from some industrial plants, within the activity allowed by a state autority, one cannot request a cessation of such activities, but can simply seek damages. The issue of the invironmental protection in the Republic of Serbia is regulated by a number of particular substantive laws, with a Law of environmental protection of 2009. as fundamental Law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of subject of legal regulation of waste as part of environmental protection law is main goal of this article. Author's starting position is that creation of waste is necessary side product of process of humanization of nature and he points out most important methods for solving that problem. Hierarchy of priorities of solving problem of waste is considered as important. First priority is avoidance of creation of waste, second priority is its material and energetic use, and finally its disposal. Relevant provisions of Waste managing Act of Republic of Serbia of 2009 are argument for acceptance of that hierarchy. Yet there are possible and acceptable exceptions regarding application of existing hierarchy and they represent final part of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]