\u201cThe project is focused on sustainable and efficient waste management in these three communities, with the aim of introducing more effective separate waste collection, reducing the number of illegal dumpsites, and lowering the volume of waste ending up in landfills. We are procuring vehicles for the removal of municipal and bulky waste, mobile recycling yards, and containers for waste separation. In addition, clean-up and greening actions are planned for illegal dumpsites, alongside educational and promotional campaigns for citizens,\u201d<\/em> explains Adela Bahovi\u0107, the project manager in the Municipality of Tuzi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Representatives from Mostar and Tuzi point out that residents will find it easier to separate waste, enjoy cleaner towns, and benefit from a more efficient bulky waste collection system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCitizens can already see the first results through the newly installed mobile recycling yard and containers placed in public spaces for selective waste collection. By the end of the project, the waste management system will be modernised and more efficient \u2013 what remains is to remove the illegal dumpsites and install video surveillance,\u201d<\/em> says Ines \u0106ori\u0107, project coordinator at the City of Mostar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bahovi\u0107 stresses that cooperation lies in joint planning, the exchange of knowledge and experience, and the alignment of activities to ensure that results are sustainable and applicable in different local contexts. A bulky waste management plan for the period 2025\u20132030 is also envisaged, to be applied in both Tuzi and Mostar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Municipality of Konavle already has more advanced waste management practices and is sharing its experience with Tuzi and Mostar. Joint clean-up actions, the purchase and use of the same type of equipment, and parallel awareness-raising campaigns under the common slogan\u00a0Be the Change with Zero Waste\u00a0show that the three communities are working as partners rather than as isolated entities,\u201d<\/em> Bahovi\u0107 emphasises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She warns that the biggest challenges are changing citizens\u2019 habits regarding waste separation, insufficient infrastructure for selective collection, and the large number of illegal dumpsites. To overcome this \u2013 with the message that a waste-free future is possible \u2013 educational workshops for residents are planned, involving even the youngest members of the community. The awareness campaign also features top European athlete Lana Pudar from Mostar, who promotes the slogan\u00a0Be the Change for Zero Waste!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe aim is to encourage residents of these communities to separate their waste and to use cloth bags instead of plastic, which can take up to a thousand years to degrade in nature,\u201d<\/em> adds \u0106ori\u0107.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Residents are already noticing the changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe city is much tidier than before \u2013 they\u2019ve installed recycling machines in busy areas, and I often see refuse workers in uniforms with the project logo. That\u2019s when I realised the EU was involved, which makes me very happy. I\u2019ve also seen Lana Pudar on social media talking about the changes \u2013 people will certainly notice and listen to her because she\u2019s so well loved,\u201d<\/em> says one woman from Mostar we met in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through the project, all three local communities will acquire specialised equipment for collecting and separating waste, rehabilitate and green several local illegal dumpsites, and install video surveillance at sites where waste is unlawfully dumped. With a budget of \u20ac2.3 million, the operation is scheduled for completion in January 2027. \u0106ori\u0107 notes that they have already applied for continuation funding \u2013\u00a0TO ZERO WASTE 2<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 in order to build on current investments and enhance the system with digital solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, the INEREP \u2013 Project for Improving Cross-Border Emergency Response, part of the Interreg VI-A IPA Programme with a budget of \u20ac14.84 million, will see Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro working together to strengthen their collective capacity to respond to environmental hazards and protect the natural environment. Over the 48-month period, the lead partner will be Split-Dalmatia County, along with the Firefighters\u2019 Education and Technology Development Centre in Split. Partners in Bosnia and Herzegovina include the civil protection services of the Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska, as well as the Br\u010dko District Development and Guarantee Fund. In Montenegro, the Ministry of Interior \u2013 Directorate for Emergency Management is the partner institution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe project involves the procurement of specialised equipment and vehicles, the modernisation and equipping of training centres \u2013 including VA.C.E.T.RA.S in Split \u2013 the development and piloting of the\u00a0FireGIS\u00a0digital tool for real-time wildfire risk assessment, as well as joint training and exercises. The goal is interoperability \u2013 ensuring that teams from the three countries work according to harmonised protocols and use compatible equipment and tools. For citizens, the benefit is faster, better-coordinated responses, with better-equipped and trained teams. The first results can be expected as early as 2026,\u201d<\/em> explains Ivica \u0160itum, Senior Advisor for Coordination and Development at Split-Dalmatia County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He highlights that the main challenges will be aligning cross-border procurement procedures, delivery timelines for specialised equipment, data standardisation for FireGIS, ensuring training safety during heatwaves, and administrative compliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs the lead partner, we bring extensive experience from our previous strategic project in which we worked with partners from Italy,\u201d<\/em> \u0160itum notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The overarching aim of INEREP is to reduce the risks associated with climate change and strengthen environmental resilience by enhancing the organisational and technical capacities of emergency services, particularly in firefighting and rescue operations. The project also focuses on raising public awareness and fostering participation in disaster preparedness efforts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The European Union supports candidate countries in establishing the standards required for equal participation within the Union, including by financially backing knowledge exchanges between Member States and candidates. At present, two cooperation projects are under way between Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro \u2013 Cross-Border Cooperation for Zero Waste and Improving the Cross-Border Emergency Response. 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