Support in the Implementation of Air Quality Directives

Global objective Improving the ambient air quality by producing relevant documents and legislation in compliance with the EU acquis, strengthening the administrative capacities for their implementation and thus providing the necessary conditions for measures to be taken in view of improving the air quality. Specific objective Assistance in preparation of the new legal framework for air quality and preparing national planning documents, in assessing the relevant air pollutants, as well as delivery of training sessions to competent authorities at central and local level on proper implementation of air quality legislation. Description of the assignment Preparation of the national legal framework for air quality in line with the requirements of the EU acquis is foreseen in the frame of this project. Namely, gap analyses of the level of implementation and enforcement of the national air quality legislation and State's compliance with EU air related acquis which are in force should be prepared. The new law and number of secondary legislation acts should be produced and Directive Specific Implementation Plans (DSIPs) for four directives should be developed. Within the new law and secondary legislation acts transposition of the AAQ directives (Directives 2008/50/EC, 2004/107/EC, 2015/1480/EC) and its subsequent modifications (in case these modifications are adopted by the EU during the implementation of project and in accordance with the legislation analysis conducted previously) as well as NEC Directive 2016/2284 and MCP Directive 2015/2193 will be ensured. The air quality monitoring will be improved with preparation and implementation of a plan for monitoring of heavy metals (HM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), inorganic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at least on three measuring sites. According to the results of the conducted measurements during the project and all other available data in the country, in accordance with the Directive 2004/107/EC, zones and agglomerations should be established for the first time. Further implementation of the AAQ directives will be achieved by conducting additional measurements on one rural background location and assessment of contribution of natural sources, winter sanding or salting in air quality. Implementation of the additional measurements on one rural background location will bring further compliance of the country with monitoring obligations set down in the EMEP protocol under CLRTAP (party since 2010). In order to upgrade and develop an air quality monitoring system that will cover all pollutants in accordance with the Directives 2008/50/EC and 2004/107/EC requirements, an air quality assessment report will have to be prepared. The project will provide training sessions for the technical staff on air quality measurements and assessment. The project will further strengthen the administrative capacities for improvement of the emission inventories by providing training sessions for implementation of higher tier methodology for emissions calculations, spatially disaggregated national emission inventories, calculation of uncertainties and improved use of QA/QC procedures, as well as in preparation of emission reduction commitment and cost-effective emission control scenarios. By defining emission reduction commitments, the country will enable fulfilment of one of the basic conditions towards future ratification of the amended Gothenburg protocol under CLRTAP. Reliable air quality monitoring data and improved emission inventory and cost-effective emission control scenarios will be used for development of air quality planning documents and definition of emission reduction measures. Preparation of planning documents for air quality improvement are crucial activities planned in this project. As a first step, an assessment of the existing national plans: National plan for air quality and National Plan for Gradual Reduction of Quantities of Emission of Certain Pollutants should be carried out. Afterwards, National Plan for the protection of ambient air for the period 2025-2029 and National Air Pollution Control Programme for the period 2025-2035 should be prepared along with the related Strategic Environmental Assessment reports for both plans, and the compulsory public consultation processes. Preparation of the plans will be carried out in consultation with technical working groups consisting of representatives from all sectors (at least energy, industry, agriculture, waste and transport). The established technical working group will be obliged to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the plans after finalization of the project, which will ensure sustainability of the practical implementation of measures defined in the planning documents. Two years action plan with identification of the financial resources for implementation of the National Plan for the protection of ambient air should be developed. This plan will be beneficial to allocate financial resources for implementation of prioritized measures at least in the first two years, which was not the case with previously prepared planning documents.