Skopje, 28 September 2023 (MIA) – The country's air pollution problem dates long before the current government and what the Guardian article did not mention is that in these past 6-7 years the state has invested a lot in dealing with it and air pollution has been dropping, Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Kaja Shukova said Thursday in response to VMRO-DPMNE MP Petar Risteski's accusations that the ruling party was failing at reducing Skopje's air pollution, after he quoted a Guardian article that said North Macedonia was the most polluted country in Europe.

"When you were in opposition, you said that pollution is a consequence of an irresponsible government that must be absolved immediately, so now I want to ask: What you are waiting for? The logical thing to do would be for you and the whole government to resign, otherwise this is hypocritical," Risteski said.

He added that the government was cutting funds from the green agenda for waste water management and protection, spatial plans and environmental conservation.

Shukova replied that those funds had been reallocated to pay for finished environmental projects.

"Capital projects for the environment are being realized with the Ministry's procurements, and though donations, which have been arriving more and more, considering that this government is bringing the country closer to the EU," Shukova said.

"What the Guardian does not mention in their article," the environment minister added, "is that this government, led by SDSM, in these past few years has been actively working on securing renewable energy sources that will replace non-ecological energy sources, which means that by the end of the year we introduce 600MW, compared to the 16MW that VMRO-DMPNE provided."

She noted that non-ecological heating systems in public facilities were being replaced with help from the state.

Shukova also referred to a new project the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning was currently developing with EUR 10 million European aid in four municipalities that needed the most help: Skopje, Bitola, Kumanovo and Tetovo. This would include procuring ecologically friendly buses for Skopje and new planting new green areas in those four municipalities.

"Finally, I would like to point out that I have been in the Ministry for a long time and I remember the elections within these past 20 years, and I also remember the recent local election when your candidates and the current mayor doled out flyers saying Skopje was going to be the cleanest city in Europe," Shukova said.

"But, as far as I can see, Skopje is far from being clean. Unfortunately, it is mostly the central government that is doing anything to tackle pollution, and very little is done by local municipalities," she added. ssh/mr